Archive

  • Review: Cinderella, Bristol Hippodrome. Until January 5.

    A ‘veteran’ of the previous two years’ pantomime offerings at the Bristol Hippodrome, I confess to a touch of trepidation when it came to this year’s production. Maybe it was the grumpy old man in me, fearing that the presence of Louie Spence in

  • Review: Peter Pan, Theatre Royal Bath. Until January 12.

    Take a trip into the world of the Lost Boys in Bath and you will be invited to take the ‘second star to the right and straight on til morning’. You do have to believe, of course, and if you do, you will transported from the starry cityscape of

  • Henry Clark

    Carpenter Henry Clark, known in the building trade by his nickname Nobby, died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath on November 23, aged 85, following a heart attack. Mr Clark was born on July 17, 1928, in Sunbury-on-Thames, where he grew up and

  • Christmas Day breakfast at Devizes Opendoor

    Devizes Opendoor will be providing breakfast on Christmas Day morning for the first time. The charity decided to open its drop-in centre to enable homeless people who have nowhere to go to meet and have a meal. Chairman Eddie Sims said the

  • Bin men facing a bleak new year

    bin men will lose their jobs after Wiltshire Council agreed to reform their waste collection services on Tuesday. The changes, being implemented in two phases, will begin in April with a reduction of four vehicles and 12 staff from the council’

  • Sue Le Blond

    Former English teacher and author Sue Le Blond died in her sleep, aged 62, at her Bradford on Avon home on December 7. Born in Enfield in 1951, she grew up there before studying English and drama at Sheffield University. She completed her teacher

  • Future now looks a lot brighter

    A FORMER inmate of Erlestoke Prison who credits art with turning his life around now hopes to teach art to offenders. Marcus, 40, began painting again while in Erlestoke and took part in an innovative project creating a mosaic with fellow prisoners

  • Chef’s book signing is a blockbuster

    TV chef Tom Kerridge was besieged by fans when he appeared at Walter Rose and Son butchers in Devizes to sign copies of his book, Proper Pub Food. Hundreds of people queued round the block for an hour and a half before the two-star Michelin chef

  • CHIPPENHAM TOWN: All hands on deck

    MARK Collier says he has no immediate plans to trim down his Chippenham Town squad as the Bluebirds head into the busy Christmas period. The Chippenham chief has continued to re-shape his squad, most recently snapping up former Swindon Town youth

  • DAN THE FAN: Nile issue underlines firepower shortage

    SWINDON’S lack of a number nine came back to haunt them again last weekend as Mark Cooper’s striker-less formation nearly sent the traveling fans over the edge at Bramall Lane. When Town signed Nile Ranger in the summer, everyone knew it was a

  • Marlborough students present a sensational Cinders

    Pupils at St John’s School, Marlborough, put packed-out audiences in the festive mood this week with their production of panto-classic Cinderella. Hundreds of people flocked to the school’s Theatre on the Hill on Tuesday and yesterday evening to

  • Devizes hospital’s site must be put into use

    DEVIZES MP Claire Perry says the town’s hospital site must either be sold to create funds for health services or be put to better use within the next year. She said she has been in urgent talks with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • BOWLS: County men edge to friendly win

    WILTSHIRE men recorded a fine victory in their last county indoor friendly match of the year – but had to withstand a recovery by opponents Worcestershire. Under the leadership of Wiltshire indoor president Keith Baker (Westlecot) they beat the

  • Parishes increase their council tax

    BISHOPS Cannings and Roundway Parish Councils have increased their council tax precepts for next year with above inflation rises. Bishops Cannings wanted to put up its precept by 183 per cent, or £33 a year, to fund the running costs of proposed

  • Calne sparkling wine is a real corker

    A sparkling wine created at the Maud Heath vineyard in East Tytherton has won acclaim after being tested by three experts at a UK Vineyards Association competition. The experts awarded a bronze medal for the Maud Heath Sparkling 2011, a blend of

  • Take steps to avoid becoming a victim this Christmas

    Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service and the Swindon Community Safety Partnership have come together to run a campaign throughout December, which focuses on how people can keep safe and help prevent crime during the festive season.

  • BOWLS: Ladies on a roll for North Wilts

    NORTH WILTS ladies are featuring prominently again this season in the Area 30 section of the women’s national championships. Sue Cooke has already booked herself a place in the latter stages of the Champion of Champions competition at Hayling Island

  • Equine disease closes Rowde animal centre

    An animal centre in Rowde has been forced to close after a number of its ponies contracted the equine disease Strangles. It started in two ex-show ponies that the Pet ‘N’ Pat Animal Centre took in last month and now nine ponies at the centre have

  • Wiltshire pupils are ahead of the curve

    Primary school pupils in Wiltshire are exceeding expected levels for reading, writing and maths, according to figures published this week. The Department for Education’s performance tables show 76 per cent of Wiltshire primary school children reached