The first week of June is Volunteer’s Week and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing volunteers for the impact they have on the lives of vulnerable children in the south west and across the UK. We have over 6,449 volunteers
This year’s Devizes Food & Drink Festival proved to be one of the most successful ever with its diverse range of events catering for all tastes and ages. The Grand Market Fair proved particularly popular, attracting many thousands of people
At the latter end of April I was unfortunately admitted to the GWH in Swindon. I hold my hands up as being diabetic type 2. I was not looking after myself properly and I developed a gastric ulcer. I think I was in for about six weeks. I had
I was shocked to see in the recent Public Accounts report into Police and Crime Commissioner interests, that our PCC, Angus Macpherson, has nine other jobs apart from PCC. He runs his own accountancy firm, Angus Macpherson Ltd; is a director for
After last summer’s Olympics and Paralympics the country was fired up at the achievements of all our athletes, but especially those in the Paralympics. Many of those competing in the equestrian events were encouraged by their involvement with the
According to your paper a sum of £200,000 will be spent on putting lights on the Green in Devizes in order that pedestrians can walk safely without colliding with cyclists. A cycle lamp set, front and rear, costs £20. I suggest that the powers-that-be
I felt I must write about ‘Closure causes stress’ (letters, May 2). To the person who wrote about the gap closure at Pretty Chimneys in Chippenham, how selfish and uncaring to write this letter. Have you no feelings for the relations who lost
I am appealing to everyone to save their used postage stamps for the Guide Dogs for the Blind. Last year I collected over a million used postage stamps, which have gone to help the Guide Dogs, which is a great cause. This year I want to do
As the media focuses its attention again on benefits fraud cases, it’s important to remember that such stories make up less than 3.4 per cent of benefit claims. Meanwhile, far larger numbers of people experiencing financial hardship for many different
Did you serve with 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron at any time between 1940 and 1967, or did your father or grandfather serve with them? If so, please get in touch. For many years the squadron has been looking for a home so that everything we have put
I would like to thank all those involved in our recent Flag Day in Marlborough, especially Martin Stannard of the Bear Hotel who so kindly made a room available at no charge. A total of £1,201 was collected for the RNLI which is an excellent result
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers in south west England for their unwavering dedication and hard work. For 365 days a year our 40,000 volunteers provide meals, transport services and companionship to older people across
As a Wiltshire councillor whose residents include those of Cepen Park South in Chippenham I felt I must respond to the negative comments made by Coun Chivers in last week’s Gazette & Herald. Any highway improvements to the A350 must be warmly
Idly turning the pages of the Gazette for local news, I came upon My Word written by Mr Deedigan of Kandu Arts (Gazette, May 9). I could not believe what I was reading! For all my 80-plus years I have never read such rubbish. I’m at a loss
Just after 7pm on Monday, June 6, a quiet – if not quite bloodless – revolution took place at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Liberal-controlled Chippenham Area Board in the old council chamber at Monkton Park. It had been rumoured, but even so
After a successful inaugural event last year, fundraising festival Mantonfest is getting ready to rock once again. Music lovers will be treated to a wide host of talented artists and bands, all with Wiltshire connections, including sets of blues
JAMIE Gibson says bidding goodbye to London Irish to join Leicester Tigers was the easiest and the hardest decision of his career. The 22-year-old back rower, former captain of Marlborough College, left the Exiles at the end of the season and joined
A proposal by Great Cheverell pub landlord Gary Weston to build a house in his garden has been approved. The proposed house, in the grounds of The Bell Inn, had divided opinion among villagers due to its modern design in a conservation area.
COURT starlet Amelia Bissett handed herself a birthday present to remember last month as she won her first ever national title on clay. The Poulshot youngster was in action in the U10 Aegon clay court championships at the Queenswood Tennis Centre
Organisers of the White Horse Challenge charity walking event are appealing for people to enter and for volunteers to be marshals. The event, on the weekend of July 6 and 7, is in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and is sponsored by the Gazette
A group of 24 women from Calne and Chippenham, nicknamed the Gremlin Bashers, raised £4,563 for Cancer Research UK during Race for Life on Sunday. Louise Currie, of King Edward Close, Calne, signed up for the run at Lydiard Park in Swindon for
When estate agents John King and Gordon Straker visited a repossessed property they were overseeing in Rowde in April last year they were shocked to find the former owner sitting in the kitchen. They recognised him as Michael Chudley, the former
LANGLEY Burrell youngster Jamie Phillips is raiding his piggy bank so that he can compete in the BMX World Championships for the second year in the row. The ten-year-old, a pupil at Kington St Michael School, has qualified to represent Great Britain
WORLD number one Andrew Nicholson will head to this year’s Barbury Horse Trials looking to lay the foundations for success this summer – but he insists that preparation won’t stand in the way of his will to win. The 51-year-old New Zealand veteran
MOTORCYCLE racing makes its annual visit to the Castle Combe Circuit, with the Fowlers Motorcycles/Motorcycle Direct Insurance/Simply SAAB 'King of Clubs' race day tomorrow. The NG Road Racing club, which has been organising races since 1970, has
SPEEDSTER Morgan Edwards has his sights set on the big time as he prepares to burn rubber in the world’s largest amateur motocross competition. The 20-year-old, from Upavon, is heading stateside to compete in the AMA (American Motorcycle Association
More than 200 classic cars were on show at Chippenham Lions’ cherished vehicle day on Sunday. This year, the second annual event was combined with the Allington Farm annual open day, meaning as well as the car show and food, craft, charity and
A site earmarked for industrial development on the edge of Devizes, where developer Redrow Homes wants to build houses, had offers from three companies, a planning hearing heard. Wiltshire Council planners refused an application by Redrow to change
Organisers of the Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally are busy getting ready for the event at Rainscombe Park this weekend. The rally, organised by the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group, takes place tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 5pm at
Guide groups in Marlborough and surrounding villages are in desperate need of volunteers to become leaders. Wendy Beattie, district commissioner for Marlborough, has put out a plea for more women to come forward and help at branches in Aldbourne
Overnight security was put in place following trespassing at the former Hygrade factory in Westmead Lane, Chippenham, last week. Chains on the gates were cut with bolt croppers overnight on Tuesday. Nothing appeared to be stolen but police said
The owners of an historic conservatory in the grounds of a manor house near Ramsbury have been refused permission to take it down. Paul Stibbard, of Baydon Manor at Marridge Hill, argued that the Grade II listed structure, called The Winter Garden
CITYSCAPE will miss the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot after suffering a setback in the Lockinge Stakes. The Roger Charlton-trained seven-year-old struggled in the quick conditions when tailed off in the Newbury Group One over a mile last month
A man who repeatedly raped one girl and sexually abused two other children has been warned he faces a lengthy jail term. Dean Faulkner had been due to face trial accused of carrying out the string of offences between 1997 and 2009. But before
Devizes MP Claire Perry feared for her own safety and that of her staff after receiving abusive emails from a constituent, magistrates heard on Tuesday. Unemployed Benjamin Brooke, 42, sent five emails to her office over a period of 11 days asking
Prince Charles has chosen a hay meadow at Clattinger Farm, near Malmesbury, as one of Britain’s first Coronation Meadows. The Prince of Wales will choose a meadow in every county across the country to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation
