WILTSHIRE Council has delayed marketing the Grade II* listed Urchfont Manor to allow community groups to have their say on the sale. There was an outcry when the council announced in January that it was closing the adult residential college. The college
Wiltshire Police chief officers and the Wiltshire Police Authority chairman are hosting a public online chat this evening. The live session from 7pm to 8pm will give members of the public a chance to ask questions directly to Temporary Chief Const-able
A REPORT into the state of the environment in Wiltshire has been published today – and it doesn’t make reassuring reading. The report, conducted by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Wiltshire Council, states there are serious problems hidden behind the
ABOUT 1,750 homes in Marl-borough experienced power cuts on Thursday last week. The west half of the town had no electricity from 9.40pm-11.35pm, when Scottish and Southern Electricity engineers restored the power. The east suffered brief power-loss
BARBURY Castle Estate owner Nigel Bunter hopes June’s International Trials can provide ample solace for eventing followers following the cancellation of Badminton this weekend. The world-leading Badminton trials at the Duke of Beaufort’s estate
Parents have been sent letters by police after their children were found drinking alcohol on The Green in Devizes. The move is part of a new multi-agency initiative, the Offence of Persistently Possessing Alcohol in a Public Place. When three under-age
A woman who was inspired to raise £10,000 after her mum died of pancreatic cancer has smashed her target. Rachel Illsley, who was adopted by Joan and Benny Bolton when she was eight, held a wedding fair at the Marsh Farm Hotel on April 22 in memory of
ROCK legends Brian May and Mike Rutherford are the latest musicians to be confirmed for a charity concert in All Cannings. Queen founding member Mr May, and Genesis founding member Mr Rutherford – who is now with Mike & The Mechanics – have joined a
Scottish and Southern Electricity have apologised for the loss of power in the Devizes area on Sunday. Some 1,100 customers lost electricity shortly before 9am when high winds brought tree branches down on power lines. A spokesman for the power company
A Chippenham councillor said the town will be shamed by widespread graffiti later this month as the country’s media turns its attention to the journey of the Olympic torch. The torch is set to visit Chippenham on May 23 from 9.46-10.16am, and
THE SLEEPLESS nights have already begun for Nathan Rudge but Chippenham Town’s new player-manager insists he’s relishing the challenge of taking charge of the Bluebirds next season. The Hardenhuish Park club announced last week that Adie Mings
AS I’VE mentioned in this column before, it was almost as if it was choreographed that we would go on to lift the title in front of 13,000 fans at the County Ground. Before the game, there was a roll call for those that had passed away during the course
A team of injured soldiers scaling Everest, including one from Wiltshire, was stranded at camp as the mountain was battered by high speed winds. The Walking With The Wounded group was forced back by 150mph gusts after trying to reach the Lhotse
ANDREW Nicholson may hold the record for the most Badminton completions but his bid for a 32nd will have to wait. The Marlborough-based New Zealander, 50, was due to ride Mr Cruise Control and Avebury at this week’s prestigious four-star event
BLUEBIRDS frontman Alan Griffin was crowned supporters’ player of the year for the second successive season after last weekend’s final game of the season. The Chippenham striker, who turned 29 on Sunday, has been the ever-present focal point
I HAD a chat to the lads last Thursday and told them that Saturday would be my last team talk as manager. It was emotional and they all gave me a hug as they left the dressing room but they’ve been really good and they wanted to try and get
IT was disappointing that the rain got the better of us against Leicestershire but it was obviously a great game for me on a personal level. People are always asking me about my bowling and I’ve worked hard on it over the winter. I bowled well and deserved
DAVE Bishop will arrive back in the country today after sending a shockwave across the British middle distance running scene. The 24-year-old from Chippenham, a former Hardenhuish School student, made a major breakthrough in California on Sunday
Alex’s return lifts Corsham CORSHAM skipper Pete Turner is raring to go ahead of the new Premier One season. The 35-year-old batsman has taken over as first team captain from Pete Dennett and will lead his side into their latest campaign
Claire Perry, MP for the Devizes Constituency, who chaired the Parliamentary inquiry into online child protection, welcomed the news that the Prime Minster will launch a consultation into the issue, which will include a formal review of 'Opt-In
Entries are now open for this year's Wiltshire Police Authority Community Award. In its second year, the award recognises the work of charities and groups which are supported by the authority and Wiltshire Police. Last year organisers
Goatacre challenge GOATACRE club captain Sam Parish says that his side are as confident as ever ahead of the new season but admits they are stepping into unknown territory in the Premier Two division. Craig Gibbens has led Goatacre to
Higgins will lead villagers into battle GRAHAM Gaiger admits that he isn’t sure what to expect from the new-look Potterne side in the new season after a host of arrivals and departures. Gaiger, who has stepped down as captain and retired
Royal Command TOM Wallbridge has no qualms about being named Burbage & Easton Royal’s new captain just weeks ago as he looked to get stuck in to his side’s first season in the West of England Premier League. James Beaumont, who had skippered
CHIPPENHAM sprinter Elaine O’Neill is anticipating an electric atmosphere at this weekend’s British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) championships and is relishing the opportunity to run out at the Olympic Stadium for the first time. O’Neill, 22
Housing association bosses have ordered families to dismantle a play trampoline because of health and safety fears. GreenSquare Housing Association has told parents in the two blocks of flats at The Oaks, Chippenham, the trampoline, which has
CELEBRITY chefs are to star at Wiltshire County Show, which will again run alongside Barbury International Horse Trials on June 30 and July 1, on Nigel Bunter’s Barb-ury Estate at Rockley. As well as being treated to an exciting preview of pre-Olympic
FORMER Malmesbury mayor Brian Denley narrowly escaped death when a blaze ripped through his home. Mr Denley, 77, who served on the town council for 40 years, was out on a rare trip to a local pub when a fire started in his Bremilham Rise home
WILTSHIRE champion trainer Richard Hannon has given one of the clearest signals yet he is soon to retire from racing. The Collingbourne Ducis handler, 66, told the Times he is poised to pass on the baton to his son, Richard Hannon jnr. He said: "It
The entertainment at Devizes Lions’ May Day Fair in the Market Place on Monday will be boosted by a new feature – a wheelbarrow race. Teams of two will have to negotiate an obstacle course while the team member sitting in the barrow clings onto a two-pint
Calne had so far managed to avoid the influx of coffee chains that have altered the landscape of many market town high streets – until now. The Gazette understands Costa Coffee has plans to move into two units in Phelps Parade. It is
DIVISION Two champions Boomsbury clinched a league and cup double when they won the Division Two Cup at Warminster Town on Thursday evening. With the constant rain of the previous few days showing little sign of abating, the match was in doubt up to
PARENTS of children at All Cannings Primary School are being urged to co-operate with a parking scheme organised by governors to address road safety issues. The school has suffered with problems of traffic congestion at either end of the school day caused
AFTER the success of last year's live televised meeting, Castle Combe does it again on Monday when the Motors TV Live Race Day beams Wiltshire to the screens of viewers in 39 countries, using five languages. A bonus for spectators are the giant television
Fire officer John Cox is retiring with an extraordinary career of service behind him. Mr Cox, 65, from Greenfield Road, Devizes, was one of the firemen to attend England’s worst ever air disaster, the crash of the Piper India Trident at Staines
FORMER Swindon Robins rider Malcolm Holloway has died at the age of 55 after a heart attack. Holloway first rode for the Robins in 1977 and appeared for the club until the end of the 1983 season before switching to Reading. Affectionately nicknamed
The weather may be more like November than May but the first crop circles have appeared in Wiltshire fields. The first one was reported on April 15 at Hill Barn, near East Kennett in oil seed rape but a more striking one is currently visible
Rivers may be flowing freely and some areas facing flood warnings, but there is no end in sight for Thames Water’s hosepipe ban. Thames Water, responsible for water in Marlborough and Swindon, introduced its hosepipe ban on April 8, and warned it could
