Two singers from Chipp-enham are one step away from performing at the O2 in London after getting through to the area final of the Open Mic UK competition. Terry Franks, 37, was picked as the judges’ wildcard entry following a round in Reading last month
The Lansdowne Hotel is the first independent business in Calne to win a silver shield for raising the most money during the Poppy Appeal. In October, Royal British Legion supporter Bea Penman donated the shield in memory of her late son Rory and
A 58-year-old man who carried out a string of burglaries has been jailed for five years and four months. Peter Barber stole jewellery and other items when he raided a house in Devizes during the first week of July. The man, who has 11 convictions
The owner of a Chinese restaurant has applied for planning permission to build an extension. The Fortune Inn, in Sheldon Road, Chippenham, used to be The Five Alls pub. It closed down for a while before Karen Lee took it over and turned part of
The Drews Pond Wood Group, which turned neglected woodland on the grounds of the former Round- way Hospital into Devizes’ first nature reserve, is in a race to save land next to it from housing development. The group has the chance to buy the former
MALMESBURY Victoria were today hoping to reopen their flooded clubhouse – but the prospect of football at the Flying Monk ground remains a distant one. Club officials were continuing the long clean-up process this week as they assessed the damage
THERE were improving conditions for the later Chilly duathlon, the country’s biggest outside London. In all, 329 competitors took part in the open race, with 428 contesting the student run-bike-run championships. Bath athlete Alexander Hill
Furniture restorer Barry Browning took his own life after years battling with depression, an inquest in Trowbridge decided on Tuesday. Mr Browning, 59, was found hanging in the workshop behind his home in Littleton Panell, near Devizes, by his
Children gave a few helpful hints to Santa during Corsham Town Council’s annual wishing tree event on Saturday. About 50 youngsters had their wishes put on the tree, in High Street, by town council staff. Those who missed out on delivering
Devizes Carnival will appoint a new artistic director next spring, if funding for the post from the Arts Council is confirmed. Dave Buxton, who has almost single-handedly raised the profile of the carnival nationally, has expressed his intentions
A mother ended up swimming the equivalent of the English Channel for charity, after her son asked her to go swimming at their local pool in Corsham. Angela Montgomery, 54, signed up for the national event after spotting a leaflet on a one-off visit
THE opening salvos of Tom Knighton’s Chippenham Town career have vindicated the decision to sign him, according to boss Nathan Rudge. Knighton, signed from Yate Town, scored a spectacular first goal of his Bluebirds’ career in Hertfordshire on
A family have appealed for help in tracing their beloved Land Rover after it was stolen from their home. Affectionately known as The Bus, Kelvin and Sally Jones’ trusty red Land Rover Defender, with its distinctive white roof, was more a part of
Pensioner William Hand-rick hanged himself while he was under investigation by the police. Mr Handrick, 76, was found hanging from a tree in Monkton Park, Chippenham, on April 4 by a dog walker. Notes written by Mr Handrick were found on him.
KINGTON St Michael runner Sam Hull stormed to victory in the 10k event as a pre-race flood failed to put the dampeners on the Castle Combe Chilly on Sunday. Unattached runner Hull finished 22 seconds clear of City of Bath AC competitor Matthew
Chippenhams new police commander has promised he and his staff will be on the beat as much as possible. Inspector Phil Staynings, 39, took over as the commander of Chippenham, Calne and Corsh-am Neighbourhood Policing Teams earlier this month.
MARLBOROUGH missed the chance to put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone in the Davis Wood League Championship as they slipped to a 6-2 defeat at county rivals West Wilts. Looking to get back on track after the previous weeks loss
The Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership has appointed Turning Point to deliver a recovery service for people in the county battling with drugs and alcohol addiction. The partnership says it has focused efforts this year on ensuring there is
Recently having to collect a heavy item from Devizes Motor Panels in Sidmouth Street necessitated driving from Gains Lane around the Roses roundabout in the approved manner into Sidmouth Street. I got into the correct lane, indicating to go round
I am writing to thank everyone who took the time to respond to Wiltshire Council’s consultation on its amended Core Strategy policy on wind farm separation distances. We were very pleased that more than 600 people and organisations, from across
I attended the skate park meeting for Chippenham on Monday night at Sheldon School. It was heartening to see so many teenagers there to support the project together with their parents, grandparents and members of the public. It was clear that
Wiltshire Council is proposing to impose a ban on wind turbines in Wiltshire. Its excuse is that old friend of many organisations that want to avoid doing anything environmentally friendly and slightly adventurous, health and safety. My research
Recently I looked out of my window into John Coles Park. The frost had brought down mounds of crunchy golden and red leaves and it was a real joy to watch a group of school children playing excitedly in the leaves, throwing them in the air and laughing
I am very worried about the plans to enlarge the waste facility at Lower Compton. According to the plans there will be a large increase in 23 tonne articulated lorries to transport more waste and recycling to and from the site, and a Hills’ spokesman
On behalf of the Lions Club of Devizes I would like to thank the residents of the Devizes area for supporting our Children in Need collection. Due to your generosity we collected £340 despite the strong winds and the prospect of heavy rain. A cheque
Mr Reader’s letter last week was one probably one of the most misleading letters ever written to the Gazette & Herald. Mr Reader states that the September 2012 plans have never been shown to the public. This is incorrect. I am told by the
The election season seems to have come early this year, but that is no excuse for not getting the facts straight. In 2010 Marlborough Town Council resolved to look positively at CCTV. One councillor offered to produce a report on the issue. The
It was indeed a misfortune that Wiltshire Council failed to get the display boards to the exhibition in a usable format for the Devizes Transport Strategy consultation last week (Gazette, November 22). I understand they arrived at the last minute as
Chippenham author Rachel Brimble has released her latest romantic novella, Love’s Debt. Mrs Brimble writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and Victorian romance set in and around Wiltshire, Bristol and Bath. The married mother-of-two was born
On Saturday, November 3 a musical quiz was held at Devizes Football Club in aid of the Devizes Christmas lunch which is to provide a free Christmas meal for people over 60 who find themselves on their own on this day. Over 100 people turned up.
You reported last week that Coun Chris Humphries has joined the Independents, saying: “I hope people understand why”. Well, actually, no I don’t. Was it perhaps because you were concerned that the Devizes Conservative Association might boot you
I would like to say a massive thank you to all my family and friends who supported me though my half marathon in October. I really couldn’t have done it without all your encouragement. Through my online giving page and collection I’ve raised a
We will all congratulate Angus Macpherson on being voted the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner. However, his success underlines the flaw in the whole policy. He has a background in the county Police Authority, so knows what he is talking about
I am calling for local people to volunteer 2 hours of their time for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Christmas collections in December to raise much needed funds for the charity. The collections are on December 5 at Tesco’s, Marlborough; on December
The gremlins got to work on the story of Nigel Kerton’s retirement (last week’s Gazette). There never was an editor of the Swindon Advertiser called Fred Avery. The editor was Fred Hazel and his secretary was Eileen Avery. T C Mayhew, Astley
“Tis the season to be jolly” and for the following reasons. Rejoice, for lo, another rural green space is to be developed on Quaker’s Walk, for a host of retired people who will live the country dream inside their gated village. Wiltshire Council
In your report of two Wiltshire councillors resigning from their respective parties to join the Independents, the leader of that group Councillor Newbury makes some disturbing comments when apparently welcoming one of them with open arms. He goes
I feel compelled to respond to Coun Burton’s letter last week in which she called my views deplorable. As someone committed to working for the good of the town, may I not express a view? I am involved with DCAP and a businessman in the town and
I read with interest the article by Jill Crooks regarding the transport problem in Devizes (November 15). You published an article I sent to you some 20 years ago, that as a newcomer to the town I could not understand why there had not been a bypass
Dad-of-two Mickey Dobie has launched a campaign to provide Marlborough with more public seating – and says he is prepared to install at least one bench himself in memory of his wife. Mr Dobie, 70, a lifelong Marlborough resident, feels the town
Mother-of-three Siobhan Beauchamp will cause a festive furore when she goes on the twice daily school run in Ramsbury next week. Mrs Beauchamp, 41, will be decked out as Father Christmas – or rather Santa Mum – while dropping off and later picking
GOAL hero Tom Knighton has urged Chippenham Town not to blow a glittering week by becoming the first league victims of crisis-torn Kettering Town on Saturday. Knighton took his tally to three in three Bluebirds’ appearances with a double in Tuesday
JOE Hughes says that his showdown with Paul Archer in Liverpool tomorrow night will be a ‘make or break’ moment in his career. The 22-year-old light-welterweight takes on unbeaten Durham fighter Archer at the Aintree Equestrian Centre, on the undercard
AFTER Town’s second defeat in a week, manager Paolo Di Canio again emphasised he didn’t expect his side to be challenging for promotion this season. Just a few weeks ago I mentioned his comments could be his way of deflecting any pressure away
Neighbours, firefighters and volunteers of Malmes-bury are banding together to start a major clean-up following flooding in the town last weekend. Torrential rain caused the River Avon to flood in the early hours of Sunday morning, flooding the
CHIPPENHAM international Dave Bishop is hoping to return to America to continue his preparations for the 2013 track season, writes KEVIN FAHEY. Bishop, 25, is currently back at his Wiltshire home after finishing a career-best 13th in the trials
The colourful Chippenham Lions Club Christmas float will take to the streets of Chippenham and Corsham over the next three weeks. The float is loved by many people and the Lions Club hope to match or improve on the more than £10,000 that was raised
Pupils at Malmesbury School teamed up this week to deliver heart-warming treats to those affected by the recent flooding. Students in Years 10, 12 and 13 at Malmesbury School baked cakes on Monday in their Design and Technology lessons. They
Devizes taxi driver Darren Jones is facing a bleak Christmas after Wiltshire Council said it is taking away his licence because of changes in the medical requirements. Mr Jones, 41, has been driving cabs for Devizes Taxis for eight years and has
Jeans, cowboy boots and ten-gallon hats were the order of the day at the funeral of renowned horse trainer James Roberts at St Mary’s Church in Market Lavington yesterday. Some 150 mourners dressed in Mr Roberts’ preferred outfit followed the coffin
Christmas will come early for little William Lloyd when he meets Father Christmas at the grand opening of a grotto iat Emery Gate shopping centre in Chippenham on Saturday. The two-year-old, of Old Town, Swindon, was born with Dandy Walker syndrome
Technology company Invensys, whose rail arm is based in Chippenham, unveiled a £1.74 billion proposed deal to sell its rail business to German high speed train maker Siemens. Invensys, which has been at the centre of takeover speculation in recent
