One regular contributor to your letters page is Michelle Donelan from Chippenham. Her latest letter tells us all about her considerable, but so far unsuccessful, efforts to get a reduction in parking charges. I wish her well but surely the
In her nice letter to the Gazette recently, Mrs Gummer said that she had never heard of Orange Grove or Phillips Court, places that I’d mentioned in a previous letter about New Park Street. Well, she’s not alone. No end of people have stopped me
I too lived in Devizes in the 1950s and Betty Gummer may be interested to know that as well as Orange Grove and Phillips’ Court there was also a Romain’s Yard, Lewis’s Court, Whitlock’s Court and Vine Terrace leading off from New Park Street. With
As a resident of Devizes, I’m concerned about the lack of serious local debate on the homes we need in our community when there’s clearly a big problem. Many of us are finding it really hard to save enough money to get on the housing ladder, or
By blaming poachers for the injury to the mare in a field near Chisbury Woods (Gazette & Herald, October 16th) aren’t the police completely overlooking another possible source of a stray bullet? I live nearby in Froxfield, and mid-morning on
I visited Chippenham cinema recently for the first time in a while – it’s probably been about six months since the last time and I was really impressed by the whole experience. The outside and inside have been repainted. It was lovely and warm
Whilst out cycling the other day I came across a cottage with a sign outside advertising afternoon teas. It reminded me of the tea runs when I was a member of Swindon Wheelers Cycling Club. One of the favourite tea places was Mrs Keen’s at the
On Thursday October 2, I experienced not only the very sad loss of my beloved dog Tom, but the extraordinary compassion and understanding of wonderful folk at Estcourt Veterinary Surgery. My rescue greyhound Tom had suffered having his ears cut
I would like to comment following your article on The Crown Estate plans in last week’s paper, and a subsequent visit I made to the exhibition in the Town Hall. It concerns me that the infrastructure is not in place and not planned to be put in
After reading last week’s Gazette & Herald, it has become apparent that we now have open season for developers in Wiltshire. It seems that they can do anything they like, as long as it includes lots of houses, and we are powerless to stop them
Further to your article last week, I am writing regarding the future of one of Corsham’s most significant and best-loved buildings. For many years the Mansion House has suffered from neglect and under-investment, and I believe we are reaching a
Marlborough has terrible traffic and a serious lack of parking. The plans to build 200-odd new houses mean 400 more cars, 400 more children in our full schools, 200 more families shopping in Waitrose and waiting weeks for a doctor’s appointment.
IT has been ten years since ABC Nursery in Corsham opened its doors so staff and children held a tea party to celebrate. There was birthday cake, balloons and a teddy bear for all the children and staff, as well as a spot of Zumba for youngsters
Aspiring writers can attend free or subsidised workshops in writing from history, using archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham. The Arts Council funded workshop, with expert mentoring by Creative Ecology Wiltshire, takes
A 12-year-old boy from Chippenham was awarded his Chief Scout’s Gold Award on the steps of 10 Downing Street. Jean-Benoit Semichon, a pupil at Hardenhuish School, was in London on October 5 with the 10th Chippenham Air Scout Group. It spent
An impressive £40,000 has been shared among 20 charities across Wiltshire thanks to this year’s Bowood charity dog show and summer fair, held with the Tractor Ted farm show. Around 12,000 people enjoyed the sunshine at Bowood on June 8, with hundreds
Young people gained poignant new perspectives on the First World War during a commemorative visit to battlefield sites in France and Belgium. Bryan Kingscote, president of the Royal British Legion’s local branch, arranged for the party of 50 from
Children from a Calne school have given a vital boost to a charity that helps families without enough food to eat. Pupils from St Margaret’s Preparatory School brought gifts of canned and packet food to their Harvest Festival celebration on Friday
Five Lanes Primary School children welcomed choir leader Grenville Jones into the school last Friday to learn wartime songs. Working with teacher Laura Hurn at Five Lanes in Worton, Mr Jones taught the children a specially commissioned medley of
A HISTORY weekend that drew thousands of people to Malmesbury has been judged a major success, with business leaders now hoping it will return every year. BBC History Magazine’s four-day festival saw nearly 40 top name historians speak to more
Minister for Schools David Laws took the bull by the horns last week with a visit to Jamie’s Farm in Box to see how it helps inner-city schoolchildren from difficult backgrounds. Mr Laws was introduced to bull Romany Lustful and two-week-old piglets
Pewsey will mark Remembrance Sunday with two final performances of an original play by the village’s amateur dramatics youth society – Call To Duty. The award-winning play was written and directed by Nettie Baskcomb Brown and tells the story of
Once again air pressure is rising! Mid-week, another trip to Devon began in very wet weather, clearing when I arrived at Taunton. Finally I arrived at Chuggaton Farm to be greeted by some sunshine. What a contrast! The return journey two days
About 20 years ago, I regularly met with a colonel in the United States Army who was in England on a two-year secondment. He lived in Devizes and we worshipped at the same church. The colonel and I would often discuss matters of mutual interest
