More than 60 entries in Pewsey's fancy dress Wine Race and hardly two the same..that's what you call inventiveness. Teams of three have their legs tied together to make it a four legged race around the village with one team member having to drink a glass
The stabbing of Matthew Baggott was a dreadful event and one that has appalled people in Devizes. I was keen to make sure we captured that sense of shock in this week's Devizes edition of the paper and I hope we managed it. We had a difficult decision
Tommy Bridewell knows all eyes will be on him as he returns to the British Superbike Championship next week. The 19-year-old, from Etchilhampton, will rejoin Team NB two months after saying he wouldn't race again this year following the death of his
The Swindon Wildcats coach writes every week I didn't get much of a break over the summer. It was very busy but hopefully it will be worth it. It is nice to get back with the team although, now we are training three times a week, Monday and Fridays
Tom Reed is hoping his lifestyle change won't affect his chances as he bids for World Cup glory. The 21-year-old Devizes Judo Club ace is now working full time in Reading as part of a placement on his Business degree from Bath University. Instead of
Eventer Chris King collected his first ever three day event title at the Blenheim International Horse Trials. The three- day event, at three star level just one step below Burghley and Badminton, attracted a world class field to the stately surroundings
A CHANGE of mind paid dividends for Ogbourne trainer Peter Makin when 12/1 Harvest Queen won the Listed Betfredpoker Superior Mile at Haydock at the weekend. He said: We were planning to take on Echelon and Red Evie in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at
RISING star Liam Dawson is keeping his cool, despite a sensational finish to his first summer as a professional with Hampshire. The 17-year-old, of Hazel Grove, Calne, has broken into the first team against Northamptonshire Steel-backs in a Pro40 game
Calne coach Richard Kearney hit out at his side after a lifeless display in their 51-6 thrashing at Cooper Avon Tyres. Hosts Cooper Avon Tyers ran Calne ragged on Saturday but it was the nature of defeat which left Kearney angry. "I don't think the
Captain Tom Green bulldozed Marine into the lead against Cricklade when he brushed off two tackles to score next to the posts, with Chris Dawes converting. Matt Dickens then profited from a mistake to grab his first try for the club, converted by Eddie
Swindon coach John Brown blamed a lack of pre-season matches for his side's 36-10 home defeat to Olney. Brown said the team looked rusty in their first match back in Southern Counties North. "It's nothing we can't put right with a little bit of practice
Bassett romped to a comfortable 55-10 opening day win. They started strongly but found it difficult to break down the Dorchester defence. Eventually some constant phase play created space out wide for Nick Parker to dive over, but the conversion was
Injury ravaged Devizes went down to a heavy 50-0 defeat at Trowbridge but coach Dan Leighfield insists they will bounce back. After a promising start the Saddlebacks were ripped apart by injury as prop Ash Rogalski (ankle), number eight Damon Murphy
Marlborough had a tough baptism after winning promotion last year after being beaten 36-0 by Minety. They defended well until Minety converted a penalty in front of the Marlborough posts from flyhalf Jack Ward. The score spurred Minety on and they added
CORSHAM experienced a bittersweet start to the new season. The firsts lost the opening encounter of their Southern Counties South return 24-10 to St Ivel Barbarians and lost new recruit Andy Williamson with a serious knee injury. But the consolation
Chippenham began their campaign to return to South West One with a 28-24 win over title rivals Cheltenham. It was not a great game for the large crowd of watching spectators but Chippenham got the start they wanted. For coach Rob Alford, the result
The new season at the Salisbury Arts Centre promises one of the most varied programmes yet with live events and film, groundbreaking drama, classical, tango and rock music and a double bill of dance where Afro-European and Hip Hop influences meet. A
Vics boss Tommy Dryden isn't worried by his side's lack of goals. Vics have scored five in seven league matches and travel to leaders Easington Sports on Saturday. But the manager has confidence in his strikers after an encouraging performance from
Tim Luscombe, who directs his own adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey, at Salisbury Playhouse, has risen to the challenge of staging the play with only eight actors, of whom only Jenni Maitland, as Catherine, has a single role. Excellent
Assistant manager Simon Hillier insists neither he or Calne Town boss Robbie Lardner are feeling any pressure after an indifferent start. Without their first choice back four of Matt Ralph, Gary Blackwood, captain Steve Casey and Chris King the Lilywhites
Melksham boss Kelvin Highmore says his side are not looking forward to their trip to Corsham Town on Saturday. They travel to the Southbank for an FA Cup First Round Qualifying clash having already lost 2-0 to Mel Gingell's side in the league this season
The nationally recognised Devizes Budo Club, which has trained youngsters to the top flight of martial arts, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was in August 1957 that founder members John Underwood and John Styles tried out a few practice
Pewsey cruised to their third win of the season with the players finally heeding manager Dave Turner's words of wisdom. They now go into Saturday's game at Clanfield full of confidence after Turner told his side, ahead of the 2-0 win over Oxford City
Devoted grandmother Edith Marshall, who many will remember as a lunchtime supervisor at Marlborough's former Secondary Modern School, has died at the age of 77. Her late husband Roy, who died in 1992, was the caretaker at the secondary modern and after
Veteran campaigner Eric Hodges, who was described before leaving Wootton Bassett as "a local legend in his lifetime," has died at the age of 78. Mr Hodges, who moved with his wife Brenda to Cambridgeshire to be nearer their daughters, spent his final
MEL Gingell has dismissed Melksham manager's Kelvin Highmore's belief that Corsham Town are favourites, ahead of their FA Cup clash on Saturday. Corsham entertain their rivals in the first qualifying round still unbeaten following the abandonment of
Former Christian Malford Primary School headteacher Alan Meredith has died at the age of 74. Mr Meredith, who was born in Dagenham, joined the RAF when he turned 18 and trained to be a navigator. He came to Wiltshire in 1952 when he was posted to Hullavington
Great grandmother Kathy Eyles of Marlborough has died at the age of 93. Mrs Eyles, who lived at St Margaret's Mead, died on Monday last week at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. The funeral took place at Kingsdown Crematorium yesterday. Mrs Eyles
I was upset to hear the news about Devizes Town striker Joe O'Chuko's injury on Tuesday. Suffering a dislocated ankle, broken tibia and ligament damage is a horrendous injury. I know Joe and used to play five a side football with him on a Monday night
Now he has got hold of the number five shirt, Dale Peckham isn't about to let it go easily ahead of Saturday's FA Cup trip to Beaconsfield. The powerful defender had to wait for his chance after suspension but, due to Ollie Price's ankle injury, he has
Swindon's unbeaten League start to the season came to an end last weekend when Yeovil Town claimed all three points at the County Ground, and on Saturday Paul Sturrock's men take the unenviable haul from Wiltshire to Hartlepool. Pools accompanied Town
There is something for everyone during the Pewsey Carnival fortnight that got under way last weekend. For the next ten days everything in Pewsey will geared towards the carnival and its illuminated procession on September 22. Some carnival events kicked
Sunday's performance against Yeovil was a disappointment, and while Paul Sturrock started with players who have done relatively well, the team that finished may be more indicative of future selections. I wonder how many times I have said this, but by
Sunday's game against Yeovil was terrible - we just didn't turn up. We have been unbeaten at home since February after losing to Hartlepool who, ironically, we travel to this weekend. Obviously the game was on Sky and you do get people coming up to
Carnival time at Pewsey is all about community and providing fun for all ages as the weekend's events proved. The two weeks of activities kicked off with a brand new event on Saturday, a treasure hunt for those who rely on mobility buggies to get about
LEE Richardson says he and his Swindon Robins teammates must grasp their chance of glory this season. He is ready to ride in tonight's Knockout Cup semi-final first leg against Reading Racers after a badfall at Coventry on Monday. Robins are chasing
A chip pan sparked a fire in Calne this morning - causing extensive damage to a house. Fire crews were called to Landsdown Close after neighbours saw smoke billowing from the windows of the property. Although neighbours managed to extinguish the
Rufus Brevett has called for the speculation to stop and the focus to be put back on the pitch at Swindon Town. The newly installed sporting director at the County Ground said the new owners are fed up with constant speculation surrounding manager Paul
CHIPPENHAM Town have rejected Devizes Town's offer to take striker Luke Hopper on loan. The Nursteed Road outfit are on the look out for a new striker following the news frontman Joe O'Chuko is going to be out for eight months. But Bluebirds boss Adie
Sisters Kisha and Shanine Cox have had their hair chopped off to raise money for premature babies at The Royal United Hospital in Bath. Kisha, 12, and Shanine, ten, of Arnolds Mead, Corsham, had been growing their hair for more than three years. They
An open air screening of classic film Grease will take place in Bath in aid of The Forever Friends Appeal. The free event will take place on Saturday at the Lansdown Cricket Club, Combe Park from 7pm. People can bring their own picnics and there will
Proud father, Big Ted, was at Chippenham train station on Monday to greet some of his charity NICU bears. Hundreds of bears stopped off on their way to the Royal United Hospital in Bath on Monday, where they will be used to raise money through Ted's
Devizes Town boss Paul Thompson was furious after injured striker Joe O'Chuko had to wait in agony for more than an hour for an ambulance to take him to hospital. The striker broke his tibia, dislocated his ankle and damaged ligaments in a challenge
Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic, was barred from taking on passengers saved from the sunken liner because the two ships looked too much alike. That is one of the revelations made in copies of the Olympic's wireless operator's reports, under the
The Labour party has lined up its candidate for the new Chippenham parliamentary constituency. Nick Thomas-Symonds has been named as the Labour candidate and will battle for the seat during the next election. Mr Thomas-Symonds will face Conservative
Skater Jacey Maloret is hoping to bring a medal back to Pewsey, 18 months after Shelley Rudman won silver in the winter Olympics. Jacey, ten, a pupil at Pewsey Primary School, will be roller skating for Great Britain in Portugal on October 6. She has
The sister of an RAF Lyneham serviceman who was killed in Iraq in 2005 has stepped up her campaign to find out how her brother died. Sarah Chapman, who lives in Cambridge, lost her brother Sergeant Robert O'Connor when his Hercules crashed in Iraq.
My gran, who was born in a tiny Welsh village in 1896 and didn't see a car until she was almost 40, found the latter part of the 20th century pretty alien. She sat up with me and my dad to watch Neil Armstrong take a giant leap for mankind, but while
I must thank Malmesbury Carnival Committee for a wonderful carnival this year. The work that has gone into the last three weeks must have been mammoth. I went to at least six events, they were all excellent and well organised; they all deserve a pat on
The picture in the Gazette and Herald on August 30 showing Marders Rendezvous Restaurant brought back memories. In the early 1940s I was a Post Office boy messenger (telegram boy). For a period of about this time, I used to take a list from the girl
I would like to say a huge thank you to the people who helped me at Lacock boot sale on Sunday morning, after I was knocked over by a man on a quad bike. The two women and a man were very kind and reassuring whilst we waited for the ambulance to arrive
As I am sure you will recall, Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner to Titipu kept a list of people who annoyed him, who "never would be missed". Top of my list would by Clarence, that monumental numpty who is the County Hall substitute for a helpline should
Many thanks to all those who helped us stage the carnival and street festival this year. The production costs to put on these popular events are now very high and so we are grateful to all those who acted as sponsors and to those who lent equipment or
When the ambition of one county councillor to be an MP at all costs plunges the Tories of North Wiltshire into civil war over James Gray's seat, that is one thing. When that same councillor forces the whole of the Wiltshire Tory Party into civil war
I plead with the authorities to think again about the alterations proposed in Kingsbury Street and Silverless Street, Marlborough, because it is evident that little notice has been taken of the comfort or wishes of the residents of this area or the
It is common knowledge that Kennet District Council is to be absorbed into Wiltshire County Council within the next 18 months, unless the Judicial Review upsets the applecart. At the recent Kennet meeting which discussed the arrangements during the transition
Dotty Pots ceramic café in Corsham is helping Dorothy House Hospice raise awareness for their Dotty Day. Dotty Day is being held on September 28 to promote the charity in a fun way by encouraging people to go dotty in any way possible. Community fundraiser
The company that owned a skip hit by moped rider Alex Grayson will face trial in November, a year after the 16-year-old's death. Alex, of Brokenborough, died after colliding with the skip on October 30 last year. The former Malmesbury School student
Newly-qualified garden designer Marion Dale has proved she has the Midas touch by winning a gold award at the National Gardening Show. Mrs Dale and Wiltshire College colleague Gary Couzens took the top award at the show at Shepton Mallet in the student
Ex-international rugby stars are set to play in Box to raise some desperately needed funds for the Green Room youth club. The match is taking place at the recreation ground on Sunday from 2.30pm and is the brainchild of former Bath player Chris Lilley
People in Devizes have spoken of their shock at the death of stab victim Matthew Baggott. Kennet District Council chairman Paula Winchcombe, lead councillor on community safety, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and people are still terribly shocked
Friends of stab victim Matthew Baggott helped to remove tributes daubed on the side of cottages in St John's Court following his death on Thursday. Bouquets were left at the entrance to St John's Churchyard on Friday but soon the tributes began to
COURAGEOUS Darren McMillan has spoken out about the racist attack that left him needing nine staples in his head. Mr McMillan, 31, from Chippenham, was walking home alone from a night out when two men shouted abuse at him before smashing a glass bottle
Voters in Wootton Bassett will today go to the polls to decide the newest member of the town council. Conservative member Josephine Linton resigned from her Wootton Bassett North seat earlier this year, due to ill health. A by-election, contested between
Wiltshire police said the handling of the Matthew Baggott stabbing incident in Devizes was a good example of the effective way the town is policed. There were criticisms that inexperienced Police Community Support Officers did not seal off the crime
People in Calne have spoken of their shock after a man was stabbed in Wood Street in the early hours of Monday morning. His 21-year-old girlfriend was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was later released on police bail after her boyfriend
The future of two of Wootton Bassett's biggest annual events has been thrown into doubt. Both the High Street festival and Christmas lights evening will be discussed at a meeting tonight. The town council's amenities committee is to review both events
A silent vigil is to be held outside Savernake Hospital as time runs out for its life-saving Minor Injuries Unit. Members of the Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have ignored all requests to delay the closure of the unit, although they are facing a High
Former Wootton Bassett mayor Eric Hodges, who died this week at the age of 78, was described as an "outstanding councillor". Former Lib Dem councillor Steve Walls said: "He was absolutely relentless when he got the bit between his teeth." "He was one
The headteacher of tragic road accident victim Hugo Hawkes has paid tribute to the popular student whose friends called him Huggie. The 12-year-old died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on Monday, six days after being in collision with a car
Police are hunting a road rage driver who terrorised four teenagers into abandoning their car so he could drive it into a brick wall. The drivers of the two cars were involved in an argument on Tuesday evening near the cinema on Bristol Road, Chippenham
Gran Kathleen Morse drowned in front of her horrified husband after falling into the River Avon. Mrs Morse, 81, fell into the river at Avon Weir, Christian Malford, last Thursday while out walking her dog with husband Peter. Mr Morse, who is also
Jamie Oliver's known not only known as a celebrated chef but also as a rock-solid devoted family man, so to hear him even mention the word 'affair' is shocking. There have been wild rumours - all emphatically denied in the past - but with his typical
The University Of The West Of England plans to build a campus in Swindon - with North Star being the most likely location. The new university has been branded unique because it will offer more work-based learning and be employer led. It is hoped
Wiltshire farmers' hearts will be in their mouths today as they wait for scientists to find the cause of the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak. It has yet to be confirmed if a newly-discovered infection on farmland in Egham, Surrey is the same strain
A fridge freezer and a sofa caught fire at a house in Devizes last night. A crew from the town was called to the property on Bath Road, opposite St Peter's School, at around 6.25pm. Firefighters put out the flames using a hose reel but some damage
I'm going to a few pubs in London today. In a spirit of moderation and prudence, I'll have no more than a half in any. I'm not looking forward to getting the 07:15 bus on Friday!
