Archive

  • Tenants to hear all the facts

    A SPECIALLY set-up project board is to oversee the potential transfer of Salisbury district council's housing stock to a newly established housing association. Following the council's decision to pursue a transfer, its cabinet was due to set the wheels

  • Court complex "is on schedule"

    THE government has refuted speculation that plans for a modern combined court in Salisbury have been put on hold, amid fears that the project has become too expensive. A court complex housing magistrates', crown, county and coroner's courts was supposed

  • Chinaman may fetch £15,000

    A WILTON woman would happily have accepted "a tenner" for a cardboard boxful of junk that for decades had been gathering dust in her loft. The box contained a battered old copper kettle, a few Delft plates . . . and a cracked blue-and-white figure of

  • Police: stun gun a necessary tool

    A FIREARMS officer has moved to reassure the public that the stun guns issued by Wiltshire Police are safe and necessary tools in the fight against crime. Inspector Robert Lisseman-Edge, of the armed response group, was responding to health and human

  • Mini car puts in maimum effort for fundraising

    MINI cars put in the maximum amount of effort to raise money for a new school on an island off the coast of Thailand that was ripped apart by the tsunami. Thirty of the cars had their performance tested at last Saturday's "shoot out", held at Slack Race

  • Accolade for thatched village pub

    VILLAGE pub the Victoria & Albert, in Netherhampton, is celebrating after scooping the title Best Pub in Salisbury and South Wiltshire. A warm atmosphere and welcoming pint helped the pretty thatched pub to secure the accolade, presented by Camra,

  • People queue to flog heirlooms

    QUEUES of people clutching prized family heirlooms lined up at Salisbury Guildhall, on Sunday, to have them valued by a team of experts from BBC TV's Flog It antiques show. The programmes-makers were hosting a valuation day in the city to select items

  • Tenants to hear all the facts

    A SPECIALLY set-up project board is to oversee the potential transfer of Salisbury district council's housing stock to a newly established housing association. Following the council's decision to pursue a transfer, its cabinet was due to set the wheels

  • Court complex "is on schedule"

    THE government has refuted speculation that plans for a modern combined court in Salisbury have been put on hold, amid fears that the project has become too expensive. A court complex housing magistrates', crown, county and coroner's courts was supposed

  • Building on raw talent

    MASTER builders have begun a search in Swindon to find young building talent. The Federation of Master Builders has launched its Apprentice of the Year competition. Jeremy Chapman, FMB regional director ,said: "There is a shortage of new talent coming

  • Police: stun gun a necessary tool

    A FIREARMS officer has moved to reassure the public that the stun guns issued by Wiltshire Police are safe and necessary tools in the fight against crime. Inspector Robert Lisseman-Edge, of the armed response group, was responding to health and human

  • Villagers' telephone nightmare

    VILLAGERS in Bishopstone were left upset after beingcut off by British Telecom for more than two weeks. Faults with the cables to some properties in the village meant that residents were unable to make or receive any calls in the area, which has no mobile

  • Residents angry with developers

    DOWNTON residents are up in arms after the firm redeveloping the old tannery erected "unsightly" containers for wheelie bins in front of the historic building. The parish council has received several complaints from irate villagers, upset that Beechcroft

  • Dad left waiting by busy surgeons

    Paul Lovegrove, 43A DAD-OF-TWO lived in fear of a massive heart attack for nine weeks because surgeons were too busy to operate. Meanwhile, Paul Lovegrove, 43, of Wootton Bassett, was told to keep his stress levels down following a mild heart attack in

  • Children have it on plate

    Samantha and Ashley Ward Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76828-63CHILDREN are brushing up on their art skills at the Richard Jefferies Museum. They have been painting mugs and plates as part of the Easter holiday programme at the museum. The Richard Jefferies

  • PCs help save a bride's blushes

    Swindon police officers Steve Harding and Ruth Abbott Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76831-17POLICE saved the day when a bride was in danger of not getting to the church in time. With blue lights flashing and sirens blaring, two Swindon officers stepped

  • Something to shout about!

    VETERAN songstress Lulu will be making a return visit to Swindon's County Ground to support her showbiz chum. The legendary Scottish singer has announced today that she will be Elton John's special guest when he performs in the town this summer. The pint-sized

  • Special visit from a leading light in spiritual organisation

    The Baha'i community will mark one of their key Holy Days with a celebration on Friday, April 22. Barney Leith, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the UK Baha'i's, will be in town to speak on the special day, known as Ridvn. Fidelma Meehan

  • Pensioners pitch in to clean up graveyard

    VERGER John Oliver is leading the fight against litterbugs in Rodbourne Cheney. The graveyard at St Mary's Church has become littered with beer cans, crisp packets and other pieces of rubbish. Mr Oliver, 68, of Brooklands Avenue, a retired postman, has

  • Workers get a helping hand

    SOCIAL workers will be given help with the cost of finding themselves a home in Swindon under new council rules. They are being added to Swindon Council's list of key workers, which already includes teachers, nurses and those working in the fire, ambulance

  • Drug team in plea for volunteers

    THE Swindon organisation Druglink is looking for volunteers. The volunteers will be involved in giving day-to-day advice and information to people whose life has been affected by drug misuse. Ongoing training and support will be given to everyone who

  • £3m grants aid recycling plan

    THE Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is to benefit from grants totalling £3million that have been given out by Defra to community groups working with waste in England. Defra the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has given out the cash through

  • Stone thrown at car windscreen

    A lump of concrete was thrown through the windscreen of a car parked in the Tesco car park in Ocotal Way Swindon. The stone completely shattered the windscreen of the blue Mazda saloon car when it was thrown yesterday by a man in his mid 20s. He is described

  • Walker robbed on way home

    A MAN was attacked and robbed on his way home in the early hours of the morning by two men. The man was walking along the pathway, which runs from Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon, into Tewkesbury Way when he was approached from behind by the men. They hit

  • Hear soccer star tell all

    ONE of England's most successful footballers is coming to the Cotswold Water Park to talk about his colourful life. As Arsenal captain Tony Adams, right, became the first footballer to lead a championship-winning side in three different decades. But he

  • Nude model to draw in artists

    Life drawing artist Susanna Bailey Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76833-22A NAKED model will provide the inspiration for students taking part in New College's first-ever life drawing classes. Artist Susanna Bailey, who will be the class tutor, claims that

  • Plug pulled on car wash for shoppers

    PLANS to build a car wash in the car park of the Great Western Designer Outlet Village have been rejected by Swindon Council. Permission for the car wash was rejected at the meeting of the planning committee last night on the grounds that its modern design

  • Club boosted by DIY store

    THE organisers of a Swindon sports and social club say they are overjoyed that permission has been granted for a DIY store to be built alongside them. Swindon Council granted permission for Wickes to open a new store in Gipsy Lane, Gorse Hill, at a planning

  • Alcoholic menace fined £5

    AN ALCOHOLIC was fined £5 by magistrates after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly. Abdi Mohammed Muse, 38, of Regents Hotel, Victoria Road forced traffic to a standstill when he wandered into the middle of the road in Corporation Street and

  • Muscling in to help mum

    Lifeguard Michael McKellar Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76829-244A LIFEGUARD has entered a bodybuilding championship to raise money for charity. Michael McKellar, from Toothill, wants to raise the cash to help fund research into Fibromyalgia Syndrome

  • Bye Mother Christmas

    Rest in Peace: Betty Kerr in December 1988A WOMAN who raised thousands of pounds for charity died at her home on the Scottish island of Arran. Betty Kerr, who lived in Old Town for 40 years, died of a heart attack five days after her 80th birthday on

  • Ending addiction should be priority

    FRANK Avenell is right to say reducing the scourge of drug addition should be treated as a top priority by society. Not only is the quality of life of the drug addict destroyed, but ordinary people suffer as the addicts try to fund their habits through

  • Wootton Bassett cruise to Cloverleaf Cup win

    Wootton Bassett put behind them the disappointment of losing the league championship in the Indoor Cricket League to Swindon I on nett run rate to bounce back and win the Cloverleaf Cup in facile style. It was expected that their final opponents, Asians

  • Got the guts!

    STEVE Jenkins has sorted out his own dodgy constitution and insists Town's players still have the stomach for the play-off fight. The experienced defender knows plenty of people are queuing up to dismiss Andy King's men but the players themselves are

  • Stage play is a real feather in the cap

    THE last time Nicky Singer's bestselling children's book Feather Boy was dramatised, it won a Bafta for Best Children's Drama of 2004. Downton Drama Company has more modest ambitions, but when it premieres its own adaptation of the novel next week, Nicky

  • Villagers' telephone nightmare

    VILLAGERS in Bishopstone were left upset after beingcut off by British Telecom for more than two weeks. Faults with the cables to some properties in the village meant that residents were unable to make or receive any calls in the area, which has no mobile

  • Soldiers can study at work

    SOLDIERS serving with the Tidworth-based Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales') will be able to study educational courses when they arrive in Iraq in April, thanks to the Swindon & Wiltshire learning and skills council. The council has presented

  • Band prepares for national finals

    MUSICIANS with Shrewton Silver Band are preparing for their second appearance in the national brass band championships in successive years. Last year, the band made it through to the national finals for the first time in its 170-year history and finished

  • Spanish podium joy for patient Bolter

    DARYL Bolter launched his first World Enduro campaign in style notching up a podium finish in Guadalajara, Spain, writes Sarah McQuillen. The debutant overcame a disappointing day one, which saw him seriously hampered by slower riders, and came out on

  • Town's kids in three fall

    A 10-GOAL County Ground thriller ended in heartbreak for Town's youngsters as they saw a three-goal lead evaporate in the final of the Wiltshire Premier Shield last night. First-half strikes from Ashan Holgate, Andy Caton and Chris Allen should have been

  • Returning Chalky proud of comeback

    STEVE White hailed the character shown by his players as they overturned a 3-0 interval deficit to eventually lift the Wiltshire Premier Shield. It was Chalky's first match in charge of a side against his old club on his old stomping ground and it ended

  • Walkway name honours writer

    AUTHOR Edward Rutherfurd is to return to his native city of Salisbury next week, for the unveiling of a walkway to be named after him. He will unveil Rutherfurd Walk - the currently unnamed pathway that runs between Reeve the Baker and the Guildhall.

  • Story was wrong

    We Would like to clarify figures contained in the story "White van man hit by new tax," which appeared in yesterday's Business Daily. Inland Revenue rules are in fact being relaxed and no tax will be payable if a vehicle is used to commute. The £500 per

  • Chinaman may fetch £15,000

    A WILTON woman would happily have accepted "a tenner" for a cardboard boxful of junk that for decades had been gathering dust in her loft. The box contained a battered old copper kettle, a few Delft plates . . . and a cracked blue-and-white figure of

  • Land deals are in firm's sites

    A FORMER firefighter is hoping to secure hot property deals in North Wiltshire. Oliver Cadle, 35, pictured, of Sherston, is the first licensee land buyer to be appointed in the area by land development firm Taylor Skelton Walters. His job is to spot potential

  • Bus shelter is magnet to rowdy youths

    A BUS shelter in Harnham could be pulled down, because it acts as a magnet for rowdy youths, whose antisocial behaviour includes intimidating local residents and damaging surrounding property. Between October last year and February this, police recorded

  • Popular dance and motorbike fan dies in crash

    A MAN who lived for music and dancing and was shortlisted for an appearance on a popular television dance programme died on Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle smash at Tilshead, on Salisbury Plain. Desmond Moors, who was 26 and lived with his parents

  • Dad left waiting by busy surgeons

    Paul Lovegrove Picture Ref: 76834-03A DAD-OF-TWO lived in fear of a massive heart attack for nine weeks because surgeons were too busy to operate. Meanwhile, Paul Lovegrove, 43, of Wootton Bassett, was told to keep his stress levels down following a mild

  • Chopper swoops on con suspects

    AN 80-year-old woman foiled a burglary by two conmen she found in her back garden. The men told her they were working on a neighbour's washing machine and needed to turn off her water supply. But the woman refused to let them into her home. Inspector

  • Highworth blip

    HIGHWORTH'S Hellenic Premier title charge suffered a blow at lowly Chipping Norton last night. John Fisher's side could only scrape a 2-2 draw after the hosts had their goalkeeper sent off in the first half. Phil Corcoran's second of the game with five

  • Anxious wait for explorer

    ADVENTURER David Hempleman-Adams is waiting anxiously by the phone for more news of his daughter. Last Wednesday, Alicia, 15, set off on an adventure of her own. Mr Hempleman-Adams last spoke to his daughter on Friday he has had no contact since. The

  • Pilgrimage will honour the Pope

    Laura Gibson Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76830-169A PENSIONER who was blessed by the Pope is organising a trip to Lourdes in his memory. Laura Gibson, 86, made a vow to visit every major Catholic shrine after she recovered from a life threatening illness

  • Rape charge against two soldiers dropped

    THE cases against two of the soldiers accused of raping a woman in Swindon have been dropped. But a third member of the 1 Staffordshire Regiment based at Tidworth still faces the prospect of trial by jury for the alleged incident. The Crown Prosecution

  • Latest local angling results include:

    Latest local angling results include: Wednesday Club match at Peatmoor (March 30): 1 Malcolm Ockwell 14-10-0; 2 Pete Sole 14-2-0; 3 Paul Hunt 13-6-0 (all bream catches). Sections: John Williams 12-8-0 and Peter Gilbert 8-4-0. Wednesday Club match held

  • Students prepare for gruelling Dartmoor endurance expedition

    A TEAM of tough students from New College in Swindon are preparing to take part in a gruelling expedition across Dartmoor on May 13. They will be taking part in the Ten Tors challenge a 45-mile walk over Dartmoor, which tests endurance, careful planning

  • Something to shout about!

    VETERAN songstress Lulu will be making a return visit to Swindon's County Ground to support her showbiz chum. The legendary Scottish singer has announced today that she will be Elton John's special guest when he performs in the town this summer. The pint-sized

  • Anti-social orders boost our quality of life, says expert

    Cheri Wright, Swindon's ASBO co-ordinator Picture Ref: 25154-55SWINDON'S anti-social-behaviour order co-ordinator has hit out at claims the orders are being used inappropriately. A new initiative called Asbo Concern, which will be launched in London on

  • Man denies he broke town ban

    A MAN banned from Swindon's car parks to stop him stealing from cars has appeared in court accused of breaking the order. An Anti-Social Behaviour Order issued by Swindon magistrates in February bans Nicholas Davis from all the town centre car parks.

  • Wear white for protest

    ON Saturday people will gather wearing white tops around the Jubilee Clock in Swindon town centre to protest against poverty. Campaigners will meet at noon to make a ring around the clock at the crossroad of Regent Street and The Parade. The protest is

  • Recycling confusion for many

    CONFUSION has surrounded the introduction of Swindon Council's new recycling and rubbish collections. Many residents have failed to put out rubbish on the new collection day leaving bin men with nothing to do while elsewhere rubbish has been put out on

  • Runner ready for tough test

    John Sreeves Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76818-07A WANBOROUGH man sets off this week for one of the toughest races on earth. But John Sreeves, 46, was almost not allowed to take part in the 151-mile Marathon des Sables after he had an abnormal electrocardiogram

  • Cooking is left to go gold

    TWO Shrivenham-based chefs are celebrating after winning gold medals in a national catering competition. James Baker and Edward Beachey both work for the specialist defence catering company ESS at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham

  • Business was boosted by move to Asia

    DYSON bosses have boasted business is booming after the majority of production was switched to Malaysia. The claim comes just days after inventor James Dyson, who heads the Wiltshire firm, was named the richest person in the south west, with his £1.05m

  • Market is vital boost to town

    Lorraine Stanton of Vowley Farm Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76832-57THE farmers' market about to officially launch in Swindon town centre could prove a vital part of helping regenerate the town centre. That's the hope of the organisers and Swindon's town

  • Mary will make her point over wedding

    Mary Ratcliffe with hier poster Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76784-12QUEEN Victoria impersonator Mary Ratcliffe will definitely not be amused when she tunes in to the royal wedding on Saturday. The outspoken pensioner reckons the monarchy is doomed

  • Party leaders set off across the country

    ELECTION '05: PRIME Minister Tony Blair has finally announced the general election will be on May 5 and said the country faced a 'fundamental choice' between Labour and the Tories. His announcement in Downing Street at 11.27 yesterday morning ended weeks

  • Bidding farewell to the Commons

    ELECTION 'O5: SOUTH Swindon MP Julia Drown is one of 80 to stand down at this election. Ms Drown, who has represented the constituency since 1997, announced in May last year that she was standing down to spend more time with her family. She joins more

  • Let the battle begin

    ELECTION 'O5: SWINDON'S election candidates start four weeks of campaigning today after polling day was confirmed as May 5. Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the Queen yesterday morning to ask her to dissolve Parliament then announced the date of the

  • Rock gig to help hospice

    Carl Sharp (aka Bryan Adams) Picture Ref: 75741-90THE County Ground is set to rock tonight when a live charity music night swings into action. The night, which will see top local talent strutting their stuff in aid of Prospect Hospice, will be in the

  • One solution

    ANDY Newman (EA April 1) correctly describes drug addicts preying on society as victims, yes, victims of their own stupidity and lack of self-control. In the ideal world envisaged by your correspondent these pathetic creatures will be allowed to obtain

  • Democracy call

    J UTTING (Adver, Letters April 1) seeks to link me with the discredited former regimes of the Soviet Union, Poland and Hungary. I was never a supporter of these so-called Communist governments, because they were not democratic. But when Mr Utting speaks

  • Join us in the Coate fight

    SWINDON Borough Council has published its statement in response to the objections to proposed Local Plan policies for Coate that will go before a planning inspector on April 19. Coate Water Country Park, that indicates a rural setting, has already been

  • Questions we need answered

    IN a follow-up to all the recent letters (Do you believe Mr Howard etc) can our Labour MPs answer the following questions: 1. After the Election, can they promise we will have no tax or NI rises before next March, or there will not be a 40 per cent gains

  • Is our money used wisely?

    YES. It's spring again and I've recently received my council tax demand for this coming year. In April 1997, for a terraced house I paid £54 a month in council tax. In April 2005 in the same house, I shall be paying £109. It is a 100 per cent increase