Chippenham’s roads and pavements were heaving as everyone headed for the one place to be on Friday night – the Market Place. Father Christmas arrived ahead of the big lights switch-on by abseiling from the roof of the Angel Hotel down to the balcony
Thousands of people turned out to watch the lantern parade and Christmas lights switch-on in Devizes. The Christmas Festival featured fire jugglers, carol singing by local schoolchildren and singers plus dozens of market stalls to keep people entertained
The chief inspector of hospitals in England, Professor Sir Mike Richards, is inviting the public to tell his inspection panel what they think of the services provided by the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath. The hospital received a damning report
Members of Potterne Springs WI are inviting people to join them to make simple dresses for girls in Africa They are holding a sewing evening, on December 9, as an antidote to the materialism and stress of Christmas for the charity, Dress a Girl Around
Devizes Town Council has awarded grants of more than £1,500 to community groups. The community and civic resources committee gave the following grants; £200, Alzheimer’s Support; £100, Brickley Lane Community Association; £100, Carer Support Wiltshire
Thoughtless drivers are causing traffic chaos for residents living near St John’s School in Marlborough during the school run. Postie Lucy Allen, 35, has lived in nearby Orchard Road for five years and often has to ask students to move their cars
Italian restaurateur Giovanni Campanella is completely revamping his Dolcipani cafe in Old Swan Yard, Devizes, to offer a bigger menu. The change came as his Isola Bella restaurant in Long Street closed on November 10 after his lease on the building
Protestors concerned about a solar gold rush engulfing the village of Seend will hold a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the plans. The ‘Wake up Wiltshire’ group has been formed to oppose plans for a number of solar farm developments around
Devizes Books owner Jo Batchelor took on a gym challenge to raise money for charity in memory of her late mother. Her mother Meg Simpson died earlier this year, aged 80, from heart complications following a fall. She lived near Winchester.
An advice telephone line for health and social workers in Wiltshire has led to the majority of patients being treated at home rather than go into hospital. The new service, run by Wiltshire Medical Services part of the Medvivo group, was set up
CHIPPENHAM fighter Ben Heap has been rewarded for his impeccable year with the chance to battle for a world title next month. ‘The Hammer’ Heap, 23, who fights out of Chippenham’s Spartans gym, will take on amateur world champion Ryan Edmundson
Young singer Rachel Allder could sing at the O2 arena if she impresses the judges at the area finals of Open Mic UK . The 14-year-old St John’s pupil, who goes by the stage name Rea, beat off stiff competition from thousands of entrants in the
The Devizes Amnesty International group is inviting local people to join them in writing messages of hope to men and women around the world whose human rights have been abused and freedoms denied. The event, on Saturday, is part of the organisation
Scooter riders gave MS sufferer Tony Sheehan the surprise of his life when they turned out in force at his care home. Mr Sheehan, 46, has not been on a scooter since he was diagnosed 13 years ago with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Don't risk your safety, job and relationship through festive drinking, say Wiltshire Police ahead of its Christmas Drink and Drug Driving Campaign launch on Sunday. Police will be stepping up roadside enforcement in Wiltshire throughout December
The High Street in Pewsey was closed for just under an hour this morning after a woman came off her bike. The lady was taken to Great Western Hospital with possible spinal injuries. Police attended to deal with traffic and the road was reopened
AFTER the humiliation at the hands of Leyton Orient last Saturday, Mark Cooper’s side earned a credible draw at Crawley on Tuesday. Ryan Mason made his long-awaited return to action as a second-half substitute after missing most of November through
Devizes GP Dr Charles Cowen told an inquest he took seriously a father’s concern for his son who had a history of suicide attempts. Dr Cowen, of Lansdowne Surgery, was the GP of Trevor Smith and had treated him over seven years for depression and
Corsham's Heywood Prep School has made it into the Sunday Times’ Top 100 Prep Schools list for the third year running. The non-selective Priory Street-based school is the only one in the county to make the prestigious list, which is based on academic
Views on whether Marlborough should get CCTV are being sought. The town council has met four potential CCTV suppliers but before a decision is made residents and businesses are being asked for their opinions. There is only one question in the
The thermometers barely registered above zero, but that didn’t stop more than 500 athletes competing in the 9Bar Chilly 10km and Duathlon at the Castle Combe race circuit on Sunday morning, writes ANDREW LAWTON. The event has grown substantially
Readers and staff at the Gazette & Herald, Wiltshire Times and Swindon Advertiser helped raise £3,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer last month. Throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Gazette & Herald held a number
Thieves who stole £2,000 of roof tiles from Lacock Cricket Club were caught when their car was stopped for a police check. Officers stopped Jason Scarff, 23, of Pinto Walk, Westbury, and Laura Stallard, 20, of Church Street, Melksham, on September
It was an action-packed evening of festive frivolities when the Christmas lights were switched on in Marlborough last night. The evening’s entertainment kicked off in St Mary’s Church where hundreds of people gathered for the schools’ choir competition
Sherston market made a welcome return this month after a wait of more than 500 years. The community event, which was believed to have last been held in the village in 1511, has been deemed a great success, with organisers admitting they were “shell-shocked
DEVIZES RFC have reported a surge in spectator interest following their promotion to South West One East. The Saddlebacks host Salisbury at their London Road base on Saturday (2.30pm) and club secretary Ross Paget said: “Promotion has meant we
MARK Collier will send his troops out for a second south coast battle in four days on Saturday with a ‘no fear’ message ringing in their ears. Collier suffered the first significant bump in the road of his Hardenhuish Park tenure as his side were
A community choir that attracted more than 150 applicants when it was launched this year is about to perform its first concert. About 80 members of the Malmesbury Community Choir, which is at maximum capacity, will take part in the Choirs at Christmas
Saxophonist Mick Allport has set up a new charity to help disadvantaged children get into music. The former Blues and Royals army bandsman is already prominent on the Marlborough music scene, teaching youngsters from his home in Barnfield and running
Anyone can be queen of the castle – but they’ll need a king’s ransom to afford it. The principal part of Devizes Castle has come up for let. But with seven grand bedrooms, five bathrooms and its own magnificent tower, the rent will set you
Campaigners for better rail access have been assured they will get a lift at Chippenham station. But it will only give access to the platforms from the Cocklebury Road side of the railway. There will be no lift on the other side of the railway
THE golden post box designated to Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy may be in his home town of Huddersfield, but the three-time Olympic medallist is not short of connections to Wiltshire. His mother Cathy teaches in Kington St Michael Primary School
A massive redevelopment of Langley Park and Hathaway Retail Park, including a new Asda store, is a step closer after council officers recommended it should be approved. The multi-million pound plans for the 54-acres of land will be discussed by
Schoolchildren helped preparations for the biggest event in Chippenham’s calendar by decorating the town’s Christmas tree ready for tonight's switch-on. Thousands of people are expected to visit Market Place to see it light up. Town mayor Sylvia
