Archive

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Halford helps Wales to team silver

    WILTSHIRE rhythmic gymnast Laura Halford and teammates Francesca Jones and Nikara Jenkins made history by winning Wales' first ever Commonwealth Games team medal as they claimed silver in Glasgow. The trio finished behind hot favourites Canada

  • Cat gets trapped in greenhouse

    A CAT, believed to have spent a day trapped in a Chippenham greenhouse, was rescued by the RSPCA. Animal welfare officers were called to Cricketts Lane last Thursday, after a neighbour spotted the cat inside. Sgt Phil Connor said: “A piece

  • Civil war on the Common in Marlborough this weekend

    Battle will commence on Marlborough Common this weekend as Parliamentary soldiers take on King Charles and his Royalist troops. The town council is working with the English Civil War Society to stage a re-enactment of a civil war battle on the

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Carlin sixth in 200m freestyle

    JAZZ Carlin missed out on a medal spot in the 200m freestyle in Glasgow this evening. The former Wootton Basset School pupil clocked a time of 1:57.26 as she finished sixth behind winner Emma McKeon from Australia, who clocked a new Games record

  • Devizes Wargames weekend

    WARGAMES enthusiasts from all over the world pitted their skills against each other at the annual Attack! show in Devizes. Organisers said attendance was up on last year, with about 800 people there on Saturday and another 400 on Sunday. Torrential

  • Pewsey tunes up for seventh annual festival

    Pewsey is getting ready for a day of diverse music at its seventh annual festival. On Saturday, August 2, fans will flock to Cooper’s Field, behind the Cooper’s Arms pub, to watch acts on the two stages, including the Rockingbirds, ChakLive, On

  • Protest walk over Chippenham Range plans

    Residents from Cepen Park North are staging a walk at 2pm on Saturday in protest at the proximity of the planned Range distribution centre to their homes. They will meet at the top of Barnes Road to walk around the perimeter of the site. Meanwhile

  • Have you seen missing peregrine falcon?

    A female peregrine falcon was lost on the A4 between Manton and Clatford, near Marlborough, on Tuesday, July 15. The bird has the following ring numbers 22MLU14W and 32MLU14V.

  • Scouts retain Devizes store support

    STAFF and customers at Sainsbury’s in Devizes chose the 6th Devizes Scouts as their chosen charity for the second consecutive year. Last year, £3,000 was raised with events including bag packing and carol singing. Scout leader Scott Coleman

  • Charlie Sherman

    Charlie Sherman was a fun- loving, hard working and inspirational young man. Mr Sherman died last Thursday in a collision in Bath Road, Devizes, as he was riding his motorcycle to work. He died two days before his 23rd birthday. He was born

  • Andrew Farrow

    Paralysed sailor Andrew Farrow, 48, from Devizes, died at home on July 7. Mr Farrow suffered a spinal cord injury after he fell out of a tree eight years ago and turned to sailing last year. Mr Farrow was due to take part in this summer’s international

  • Gayna Cousins

    Gayna Jacqueline Cousins died on July 7, aged 70, at Blenheim House Nursing Home, Melksham. Known as Gay, she was born Gayna Jefferies on June 29, 1944, at Corsham Maternity Hospital, the daughter of Freda Mary Jefferies and Herbert Henry Jefferies

  • Robert Hill

    Robert Hill, who was head of the Hills Group for more than four decades and was a leading figure in Marlborough Golf Club for many years, has died at the age of 74. Mr Hill died on Thursday afternoon, just 24 hours before the opening of Marlborough

  • New Wiltshire fire boss to address meeting

    The new chairman of the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority will address Wiltshire Council next week, ahead of an expected row over the proposed service merger. Councillor Chris Devine will deliver a presentation on Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

  • Chippenham pupils film surprise ‘naughty’ video for head

    For six years they have done exactly what they are told but for one day the Year 6 youngsters at Redland School in Chippenham let rip with every naughty deed they could think of – and their headteacher was delighted. Each year the school has a

  • Lightning start for Chippenham flotilla

    Revellers carried on regardless as storms raged over Chippenham’s sixth River Festival in Monkton Park on Saturday. The Calne divers made a sweep of the river bed to ensure it was safe before the event set off and – despite heavy rain, thunder

  • CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Collier eyes up new Bluebirds recruits

    MARK Collier confirmed he is still in the market for a ‘couple’ of additions to his Chippenham Town squad before the new Southern League Premier Division season gets under way. The Bluebirds boss has already re-shaped his side with the additions

  • Fault with Calne's 999 service fixed - police

    Wiltshire Police say the fault with BT lines in Calne has now been fixed and all 999 lines have been restored. A spokesman said: "Thanks to local media for assisting us in getting the message out to the local community."

  • CRICKET: Clark content as Wiltshire stay top of the pile

    WILTSHIRE batsman Neil Clark is delighted the county side still hold the destiny of their Unicorns Championship title challenge in their own hands after their draw with rivals Devon at Devizes this week. Wiltshire remain 12 points ahead of their

  • Pewsham campaign to reduce speed

    Children in Chippenham are asking drivers to slow down so they feel safe walking to and from school. A poster campaign aiming to reduce speeding around Pewsham is to be launched in September. Abbeyfield secondary school and Charter and King

  • A good turn for drivers

    The new Manor House Enterprise Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett has welcomed its first business tenant – Huntmill Transport Training. The business is run by husband and wife team John and Lynn Kelly, who are offering support to professional lorry

  • Pewsey queen’s crowning moment

    Villagers enjoyed a party fit for a queen on Saturday at this year’s Pewsey carnival royalty selection. The search for this year’s royalty was held at Cooper’s Field with Eleanor Smith crowned queen out of eight entrants. Granddaughter of the

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Tom’s chance arrives

    WHEN Tom Reed takes his first steps on to the Commonwealth Games mat in Glasgow tomorrow, he will have an extra spring in his step as he looks to put on a show for his nearest and dearest. Although an experienced international, Reed has rarely

  • Thousands to gain clearer vision

    About 4,000 unwanted spectacles collected in Wiltshire will go to help people across the world. The initiative was arranged by Dr Michael Green, a member of Devizes Lions Club, and the spectacles were collected at Wiltshire Council household recycling

  • Calamity Jane, Watermill Theatre, Newbury. Until September 6.

    Oh, the Deadwood stage is a-rollin on over the plain, yee hah! And even an old grump like me, who would normally run a mile at the mere mention of a musical, was won over by the boundless energy and sheer class exuded by this scintillating adaptation

  • 30,000 are ready to party at WOMAD

    Everyone has heard of the Jules Verne adventure Around The World in 80 days. Musically speaking, fans will be able to travel the globe in 80 hours this weekend by heading to a swathe of countryside two miles from Malmesbury. Nearly 100 bands and

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Carlin through to 200m freestyle final

    WILTSHIRE swimmer Jazz Carlin progressed smoothly through to the final of the women's 200m freestyle with a new personal best and Welsh record in the heats on the first day of Commonwealth Games competition in Glasgow this morning. Two-time Commonwealth

  • Good turnaround in Lavington School ’s report

    Some significant improvements in teaching at Laving-ton School have secured it a good Ofsted report. The school, in Market Lavington, was given a rating of requiring improvement when Ofsted inspected it under a tougher framework in September 2012

  • EQUESTRIAN: Coral gets Burghley lift

    DEVIZES eventer Coral Keen will make her debut at September’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, riding Wellshead Fare Opposition. Keen, 27, will route the ten-year-old gelding to the four star competition following a successful outing at Aston-Le-Walls

  • RACING: Sam saddles up

    TEENAGE jockey Sam Burton is looking forward to the experience of riding under the England banner when he represents his country in Ireland next month. Burton, from Calne, is one of 18 young riders selected in the England team that will take on

  • Multi-agency day in park for free advice

    Representatives from organisations including Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council and charities will be in Hillworth Park to provide free advice. The multi-agency day is on Friday, August 1 from 10am-3pm. Other organisations will include the Wiltshire

  • STARS OF TOMORROW: Rising star Yasmin is one for the future

    THERE are just seven days left to nominate a young athlete for our Stars of Tomorrow contest, being run with Bag4Ssport Foundation, and give them a chance of a grant of £500. Among those already nominated is volleyball player Yasmin Kaashoek, 15

  • Devizes town chiefs refusing to replace bins

    Devizes Town Council has rejected any notion that it will pay for replacement litter bins. The council has been concerned about the condition of litter bins, owned and maintained by Wiltshire Council, for some time. In a report to the town council

  • Wiltshire at the Commonwealth Games

    Today: Swimming – 200m freestyle heats & final: Jazz Carlin (Wales), 4x100m freestyle relay heats & final: Rachel Williams (Melksham, Wales); Rhythmic gymnastics – Team final and qualifying: Laura Halford (Cricklade, Wales). Friday, July

  • Arts take over Chippenham

    The arts staged a takeover of Chippenham, with workshops and performances across town venues. Chippenham Community Arts Festival was organised after last year’s successful drama festival at the Neeld Hall, adding dance, music and visual arts to

  • Review: Singin' In The Rain at Bristol Hippodrome

    The scene everyone knows from Singin’ In The Rain is Gene Kelly splashing around in a deluge, light stepping it with an umbrella. It’s the song that closes the first act in the stage show – well, the crew need the interval to dry the stage. Stepping

  • No more 3am alcohol at Corn Exchange after fracas

    Alcohol sales at the Corn Exchange will stop earlier to try to stop anti-social behaviour, Devizes Town Council has agreed. The Corn Exchange has a premises licence until 3am allowing entertainment and alcohol to be sold. Following disorder

  • Calne waste application rejected over fire hazard fears

    Calne Aggregates’ application to increase the height of its waste stockpiles off Abberd Lane was refused by planners after councillors said they were already breaking their planning conditions. The strategic planning committee voted last week to

  • RACING: Dream preparation for Lambourn's Osborne

    LAMBOURN trainer Jamie Osborne could not be happier with Field Of Dream ahead of the £150,000 Longines International Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. The seven-year-old won the race two years ago and showed he was just as effective over a mile when

  • Market Lavington teen to tackle Three Peaks

    Teenager Oliver Bird is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps and complete the Three Peaks Challenge. Oli, 16, of Lady Wood, Market Lavington, will be accompanied by his father Martyn, and mother, Jackie, when he attempts to climb Snowdon

  • Hammer-wielding man threatens Devizes shop staff

    A man wielding a hammer threatened staff at the One Stop Shop in Devizes. The man entered the shop, in Eastleigh Road, shortly before 11pm on last Thursday. He demanded money and hit the till with the hammer. A member of staff was grabbed by