BOX duo Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs, Wiltshire ladies pairs champions for the past three years, have qualified for the semi-finals in the women’s national pairs championship. They have both been enjoying a fine run at the National Championships being
More schools than ever have signed up to take part in this year’s Devizes Carnival procession on Saturday, August 31. Once again Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA), which organises the carnival, has won Arts Council funding for workshops to
BURDEROP'S Catherine and Lewis Fletcher have two medal chances on Saturday’s last day of tennis competition at the 22nd Summer Deaflympics after Catherine and fellow Brit Bethany Brookes finished fourth in the women’s doubles on Friday. After taking
Andrew Carr’s letter last week was, like the curate’s proverbial egg, good in parts. It stated the reasons for resisting the proposals for several large housing estates around the periphery of our town, but concluded that we would have to accept them
I visited Allington Farm Cafe on July 25 with a friend and was absolutely disgusted with the treatment we received. My friend and I both have children and chose this cafe as we considered it a family friendly establishment. However, part way through
CLOGS Musical Theatre were on top form at Chippenham Town Hall with arguably the most entertaining summer concert to grace that elegant building. The audience, including myself, loved it. There was not a weak spot in the entire performance and
I would like to thank the very kind lady who helped me when I had a bad fall outside Sainsbury’s last Friday. She helped me up and put my shopping in her trolley and saw me to my car and put the shopping in my boot. Margaret Hancock, Water Mint
I have just attended, as an observer, the Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee and witnessed them grant outline planning consent for the development of 50,000 sq meters of commercial buildings at Showells Farm, south west of Chippenham.
Further to Fiona Scott’s articles of July 25 regarding benefits, although we recognise that there are many deserving cases who should be entitled to benefits, we also know of people who know how to “work the system”. One family of three known to
I wholeheartedly endorse Mr Robert Macmillan’s grave reservations about personal computers, published in the Gazette and Herald on July 11. Two fundamental truths about computers seem to have been drowned out by incessant and incoherent babble
A cracked rib couldn’t stop Major Nick Wood from completing his most recent mission, after the Corsham-based officer defied injury to cycle across England for charity. The officer, based at MoD Corsham with the 10th Signal Regiment, suffered the
Crime figures in the Devizes area could be cut by up to 50 per cent if motorists would stop leaving valuables in their vehicles for thieves to steal. Inspector Matt Armstrong said he and his officers were frustrated that despite frequent reminders
I must take Maxine Dyer to task on a number of inaccuracies in her last letter to the Gazette. Those skateboarders I have spoken to want a skate park but are not fussed if it’s in Monkton Park or not. The fixation for Monkton Park comes from the mysterious
I attended the WOMAD festival in Malmesbury on Friday in my capacity as Wiltshire Council’s lead for emergency planning and I have to congratulate and thank the organisers for such a well-organised, safe and inclusive festival. Council leader Jane
The countryside is increasingly at risk from inappropriate development caused by inadequate planning policies, a weakening of local democracy and a focus on short-term economic growth regardless of the environmental consequences. The Government
The many local home owners who benefited from increased values as well as more peaceful lives when Lyneham ceased to be a major centre for military activity should be warned. Real affection for our forces made us sentimental about the heroes, but
Plasterer Ken Jones and his partner, Jackie Pike, just couldn’t believe their luck when on the very day they scooped £117,703 on The National Lottery – Jackie’s mum was given the all-clear from a cancer scare. After discovering they had won a small
An engineering company based in Calne would consider moving its business away from the town if plans to build 34 houses on land off Stanier Road were accepted. Altex Engineering, which employs more than 50 people, is on the Porte Marsh Industrial
Travel buddies created by schoolchildren near Malmesbury have been backpacking around the world as part of a geography project. Youngsters from Luckington Community School created and decorated 2D cardboard travel buddies to send around the world
BEN Amor is aiming to keep his blossoming career on an upward curve after emulating some of golf’s most famous names by lifting the England U18 title. The Marlborough youngster, who celebrated his 18th birthday last month, got his hands on the
Devizes police are urging parents to be aware where their children are and what they are doing after a spate of anti-social behaviour coinciding with the start of the school holidays. Although high spirits are understandable when young people are
Roundway Parish Council is objecting to the planning application to build up to 260 houses next to Lay Wood in the neighbouring parish of Bishops Cannings. At a meeting held on July 15 the parish council agreed to object saying that the application
Ambulance response times to life-threatening calls in Wiltshire are not meeting their targets. Latest figures show Red 1 calls which require an ambulance response in eight minutes achieved 62.54 per cent against a target of 75 per cent. For
A 30-year-old Chipp-enham man who was “full of love and touched everyone he met” has drowned at a festival in mid-Wales. Timothy James Alexis Dawber, of Sarum Road, went for a dip in a pond with friends last week near the village of Llanddewi Brefi
An unexploded Second World War propelled grenade was discovered in Lacock this morning. The device was found by conservation masons in the river near Lacock Bridge at about 9am. It was found to be a propelled grenade from Second World War that
Most centenarians would prefer to take it a bit easier in their 100th year but Dauntsey’s School’s pilot cutter Jolie Brise is taking part in the Fastnet Race this month, 88 years after it won the first one. The Jolie Brise triumphed in the first
An elderly woman driver was airlifted to hospital after a crash between her car and a tractor on New Road, Bromham, yesterday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 1pm. The 73-year-old female driver of a VW Polo
Bistro and wine bar owner Philip O’Shea said his premises will not become a magnet for rowdy late-night drinkers after he applied to close later. Mr O’Shea hopes to vary the opening times of The Peppermill, in St John’s Street, Devizes. He
BROMHAM teenager Libby Seed added a sparkling finish to her time as a pony rider as she helped Great Britain to a team gold medal at last week’s Pony European Championships. The 16-year-old and her ride Mr Vick finished seventh overall (49.2 penalties
MONTIRIDGE swooped late and fast to lift the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for the Richard Hannon team at Glorious Goodwood today, the Wiltshire trainer's 250th winner at the track. Champion jockey Richard Hughes sat towards the rear of the field
A decision to reject plans for 125 houses and a care home at Marden Farm, near Rookery Park, raised cheers and a round of applause from South Calne residents at a planning meeting. The proposed site, measuring 14 hectares, lies outside the local
Sisiters Mollie and Hattie Philpott hosted their own tea party to raise money for Marie Curie in memory of their mum, Vicky, who died four months ago. Mrs Philpott, 48, died on March 1 and her daughters decided they wanted to help an organisation
LAURA Collett doesn’t expect to have any apprehension about getting back in the saddle when she returns to action following the fall that left her in hospital for nine days last month. Collett, 23, who is based at the Membury estate, sustained
The Canal & River Trust is calling on waterway wildlife lovers to support its appeal to create more water vole friendly habitat on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The water vole is the UK’s fastest declining mammal so managing the special habitat
ONE of the hardest shots to play in golf is a shot over a bunker to a firm green or when the flag is not very far on the green. To get the ball close you need to both get the ball high and to create some spin on the ball to get the ball to stop
Plans for a new robotic dairy unit in Allington, near Devizes, were approved by the eastern area planning committee last night, despite fears that it will be a blot on the landscape. Oram & Sons, which operates Manor Farm in Allington, applied
Hilmarton resident Barry Scott has raised at least £500 for two armed forces charities after cycling 196 miles around Wiltshire. Mr Scott, who completed the trek in three days, served in the Royal Air Force from 1960 to 1975 and is a case worker
Youngsters in Calne have collected £140,000 for the re-development of their town’s skate park. A teenage skate park task group raised funds by bag packing at Sainsbury’s, organising a dress down day at John Bentley School, and by filling in forms
February 16, 2001: A £45,000 skatepark opens behind the Olympiad. March 2001: North Wiltshire District Council receives complaints from residents in St Mary Street and Monkton Park, including claims of smoking, drinking, drug taking and noise.
WILTSHIRE’S Jazz Carlin last chance of a medal at the World Championships in Barcelona disappeared this morning as she failed to reach the 800m freestyle final. The former Wootton Bassett School pupil, who boasted the fastest time over the distance
It’s that time of year again when the Wadworth shire horses get to go on their well-earned summer holiday, this year on August 9. The start of their annual break has become a regular event for the crowds of fans who assemble to cheer these well-loved
SKY Lantern looks to put the seal on what has been a superb week for trainer Richard Hannon by claiming her third Group One of the season in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes on Saturday. Hannon has enjoyed another excellent Glorious Goodwood,
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson will visit Aldbourne Youth Council’s play day and new community facilities on Wednesday. Mr Macpherson will be meeting Aldbourne Youth Council representatives following
BLUEBIRDS’ boss Nathan Rudge plans to consult chairman Neil Blackmore as he decides which of his triallists will become permanent additions to his Chippenham Town squad. Former QPR winger Leon Jeanne, Radstock Town striker Isaac Reid, Hallen midfielder
A plan that would aim to control where future housing will go in Devizes is out for public consultation. The Devizes Area Neighbourhood Plan suggests small-scale housing developments take place and it was put together by Devizes town and Roundway
Fervent debate on a proposed skatepark for Monkton Park led to accusations of anti-social behaviour from both sides. A public meeting in Chippenham’s West End social club last Wednesday night was attended by about 80 people, of which a third were
JAZZ Carlin hopes to use the hurt of two medal misses to propel her to world title glory this weekend. Carlin, a former Wootton Bassett School pupil, was the star performer in last month’s British Champion-ships, but she suffered double agony in
