Pewsey residents have the chance to get involved with a project to mark the centenary of the First World War by sharing stories, folk songs and memorabilia. Award-winning folk singer Sam Lee has launched Forever England, which looks back at the
POLICE initiative Operation Dasher, which was carried out in Marlborough over the Christmas period to prevent and detect crime, has been hailed a success. The operation was adopted from Swindon and saw an increase in high-visibility policing with
One of the founders of the Children’s Folk Festival in Chippenham, Antonia Pieroux, died on January 9 aged 86, surrounded by her family. Mrs Pieroux (nee Chambers), who was known as Toni, taught at Colerne Primary School and later at Westmead Junior
The funeral has been held for Rosemary Anne Clark, 65, of Royal Wootton Bassett, who was described as a warm, loving person who had a notable career in nursing. Mrs Clark was a staff nurse and sister at Swindon’s former Princess Margaret Hospital
Animal-lover Claire Bremner, who was known as The Cat Lady, died at her home in Dilton Marsh on January 2, aged 96. She founded the Cats in Care shelter, which she had run from her home since 1959, taking in stray cats from across the area.
Father-of-six Joe Crook, who has died at the age of 93, was a former Marlborough fire fighter who attended some of the town’s biggest blazes including the fire in 1966 that reduced the Polly Tea Rooms to a single storey. Ronald Victor Crook – who
Car sales manager Paul Kightly thought he was doing the responsible thing when he pulled off the M3 to have a rest after nearly falling asleep at the wheel. But he was shocked two weeks later when his employers at Chippenham Vauxhall received a
HULLAVINGTON speedster Fraser Rogers is celebrating a watershed moment in his racing career after signing a deal to take on the world in the FIM Supersport World Championship. The 18-year-old, who won the Aprilia Superteens Championship and the
Lavington School in Market Lavington is ranked 18th in the county for their GCSE results last year. The school had 63 per cent of pupils achieveing five or more A*-C grades including English and maths. Headteacher Martin Watson said there were
A company on Corsham’s Park Lane Industrial Estate reported the theft of two empty containers used to store diesel early on the evening of January 14. They were found filled with diesel at 9.40pm at Cornfields in Chippenham. The containers
High-achieving pupils have helped to place Sheldon School in Chippenham near the top of this year’s league tables. The school was ranked sixth within Wiltshire for its GCSE scores and 72 per cent of pupils gained five or more A* to C grades at
Marlborough Town Council can finally decide on what CCTV system to introduce following a public consultation during which 64 per cent of people voted in favour of the project. At a full council meeting in November it was decided that £20,000 would
POLICE are carrying out additional patrols around Marlborough recreation ground following the discovery of nitrous oxide canisters. In the past there have been incidents of teenagers inhaling nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas,
Husband and wife team Helen and Simon Curtis are toasting success after their pub The Jolly Huntsman at Kington St Michael, near Chippenham, was named the Gazette and Herald pub of the year for 2013. Mrs Curtis said: “It is a fantastic start to
SHELLEY Rudman says she will head into her third Winter Olympic Games next month unburdened by any excess pressure. Pewsey slider Rudman, a silver medallist on her debut in Turin in 2006 and sixth in Vancouver four years ago, was yesterday confirmed
The finishing touches are being made to the former Comet building in Chippenham, which is due to reopen as B&M in two weeks time. National discount variety retailer B&M has created 80 jobs in Chippenham after securing the new shop premises
AMATEUR star Jordan Smith hopes a spot of globe-trotting this month could open the door to the next phase of his career. The Derry Hill player, 21, was this week competing at the qualifying school for South Africa's Sunshine Tour hoping to earn
Ofsted inspectors praised the enthusiasm of staff at Priestley School in Calne as it achieved a good rating for the second time in three years. The school, in Prince Charles Drive, has about 180 pupils on its roll and received the report after
Retired lecturer Richard Savage is hoping to shame litterbugs by publishing these photos of rubbish that finds its way into his garden off Windsor Drive. Mr Savage, 71, from Maud Close, saw our article on the growing tide of litter in the town
The chairman of the Devizes and Roundway in Bloom committee has appealed for local gardeners to open their gardens to the public as part of this year’s floral events. Zena Robson said she and her colleagues had high hopes that this year’s open
PROMOTED Potterne have been handed a plum start to life in the Wadworth 6X West of England League Premier Two division in May. The villagers, who dramatically clinched the Glos/Wilts Division title by beating rivals Lechlade in a title showdown
There were premium prices for top quality at the first Carter Jonas hay and straw sale of the year. Auctioneer John Read reported that both wheat and barley straw averaged £60 a tonne but buyers confident of quality went to £80 a tonne. The
Corsham School teachers, pupils and parents are celebrating after another successful showing in this year’s league tables. The Tynings school was ranked 13th out of 42 schools in the local authority for its number of students getting five or more
CHIPPENHAM Town chief Mark Collier insists revenge will not be on his mind when he side lock horns with Weymouth at Hardenhuish Park this weekend. The Bluebirds slipped to a disappointing defeat to the Terras in Dorset last November, with Collier
Youths in Malmesbury have been praised by police for helping to search for the elderly owner of a loose dog. The youngsters, who were in Station Yard car park on Monday night, contacted police after growing increasingly concerned for the safety
AVON Valley Runners’ Michael Towler warmed up for Saturday’s South of England cross country championships by cruising to victory in the Corsham Park Challenge last weekend. Towler, 24, from Trowbridge, finished the six-mile Corsham event, the fourth
Devizes police have appealed for witnesses after thousands of pounds worth of equipment was stolen from a vehicle parked in the West Central car park. Police found a crowbar and a brick, which had been used to smash the nearside rear and offside
Two teenagers charged with armed robbery following an incident at a Calne petrol station last year have admitted their involvement in the crime. Dylan Gaffey, of Cloatley Crescent, Royal Wootton Bassett, and Ryan Mills, of Broken Cross, Calne,
Calne town councillors have granted nearly £6,000 worth of funding for five different organisations that aim to support businesses and residents in the community. Councillors awarded £5,000 to the Calne Heritage Centre at a meeting on Monday, which
Award-winning Devizes butcher and delicatessen Walter Rose and Son has acquired another national accolade. It has won a commendation in a major competition that attracted 300 entries from all over the country. The Farm Shop & Deli Awards
A man in his 60s was airlifted to hospital after a fire in his home in Littleton Panell, near Devizes, yesterday evening. Fire crews from Devizes and Westbury were called to the blaze on the first floor of the house in North Close shortly before
The opening hours at Chippenham Dental Access Centre, Swindon Health Centre in Carfax Street, and Salisbury Avon Approach Health Centre have been extended in a one year trial. Dental Access Centres offer NHS dentistry to people who are not registered
LEWIS Taylor wants his Pewsey Vale side to build on their battling performance against Bradford Town last weekend and have a big say in the Sydenhams League Division One promotion battle. Taylor’s men gave the runaway Toolstation League First Division
CHIPPENHAM Park boss Dave Ferris has rubbished claims by Cheddar manager Jared Greenhalgh that last weekend’s meeting between the two sides should have been called off due to floodlight problems. Ferris’ men beat their Somerset opponents 2-0 at
HARLEY Purnell is banking on a run of good form to be the glue that knits together Mark Collier’s Chippenham Town squad. The former Yate Town man finds himself playing under his third manager of the season and says that it is taking some time to
Devizes funeral director John Stuart is continuing to collect donations of food for Devizes Food Bank. The company, which has a branch in The Brittox, started collecting for the charity in the run-up to Christmas but has decided to carry on due
Wiltshire Police, along with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), are warning of a large-scale computer virus. The NFIB have been made aware of a destructive malware which installs itself on to computers and encrypts the users’ files.
SHELLEY Rudman clinched her second podium finish of the FIBT World Cup season this morning - as Great Britain compatriot Lizzy Yarnold was crowned champion for the first time. Pewsey slider Rudman finished third in a weather-curtailed final round
FULL-BACK Nathan Morgan believes Marlborough will absorb the lessons of last season’s cup run after reaching the final of the Southern Counties Junior Vase last weekend. Morgan scored 17 points and skipper Jonny Mantle added a hat-trick of tries
Developer Mactaggart and Mickel is trying again to obtain planning permission to build 350 homes on the edge of Devizes. It was refused permission by Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee in September. Mactaggart and Mickel appealed
DEVIZES continued their march towards the Davis Wood League Central One title as they soundly saw off Chippenham 3-0. The home side dominated the play right from the opening whistle, but were frustrated by solid Chippenham defending. The deadlock
Young people from Pewsey, Upavon and Everleigh studying at Andover College will be able to get to classes with ease when a new subsidised bus service launches. From September, students in these villages can take the bus to college in the morning
Chilton Foliat Primary School proved it has greatly improved since its last Ofsted inspection as it earned a higher rating. Two years ago the school was rated satisfactory but, during an inspection on December 12 and 13, Ofsted said it saw notable
The scrapping of funding promised for a children’s splash pad has led to a row between Chippenham town councillors. Parents, childminders and councillors say Chippenham’s youngsters are now in danger of having neither the water play feature in
Devizes is to be the pilot town for a digital marketing scheme that aims to bring in more shoppers and tourists. iStreet is an App that has been developed by digital marketing and communications company VirtualXpo. iStreet will list businesses
When Gill Ford and Tim Pier tie the knot in a ceremony at the Bear Hotel in Devizes on Saturday it will be just the latest chapter in their three-year struggle to get permission for them to be together. The two amateur photographers, Miss Ford
A woman who drank a beer in a Chinese restaurant and then left without paying has been told to pay the cost of the drink. The 52-year-old woman, who has not been named, entered the Zumi Chinese restaurant in Southbroom Road at around 8.15pm on
A Sutton Benger resident told the parish council it was not an option to do nothing about the flooding that has plagued his home three times since November. David Wynne-Davies, speaking at a meeting last Wednesday, said since he moved to Seagry
A new choral work to commemorate the centenary of the First World War has been commissioned for St Mary’s Opera Ensemble. Mark David Boden’s Drifting in a Starless Space will be premiered at the spring concert at St Mary’s School, Calne, on March
Restaurateurs Richard Gorzelski and Edite Franca expect to open their hotly anticipated fish and chip restaurant in Malmesbury next month, but in the meantime their new family café opened at the weekend. Portski has reopened at the former Wendy
The Major Wrecks dance troupe showed off its moves at a charity fitness fiesta on Saturday. The group joined fellow member and Devizes mayor Pete Smith at the fun event held at Corn Exchange, Devizes, in aid of the Bag4Sport Foundation. Mr
