POLICE are warning people to check the identity of callers after distraction burglars tried to fool an elderly Chippenham man into believing they were water board officials. The two men called at the home of the elderly man in Allington Way at 4.45pm
MEMBERS of SkateInSafety, a group of skaters and parents campaigning for a new Chippenham skatepark, have taken one more tentative step closer to their dream. Meeting with residents of The Paddocks in Chippenham, they discussed the issues of building
TIME is running out for developer E&J, which has just over two weeks left to complete a deal for the former Chippenham nightclub Goldiggers. E&J Redditch submitted a planning application to change the use of the Timber Street site from a nightclub
A HAND-made weather vane, a gift from the people of La Fleche, Chippenham's twin town, will be installed on the bandstand in John Coles Park. The Mayor and members of the La Fleche Twinning Association presented the Mayor of Chippenham with the commemorative
A TEN-year dream will come true as work on a new clubhouse at Chippenham Sports Club begins this month. Contracts have been signed to build the £700,000 clubhouse with social and changing facilities and a new bowls green at the Bristol Road ground. The
A COMMITTED band of rubbish collectors braved the weather to do their bit in tidying up Cepen Park South last weekend. The volunteers gave up several hours of Saturday to collect more than 20 bags of litter from the area surrounding the pond and old barn
THE Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses have opened their doors for a second season and have already welcomed visitors from abroad. French twinning visitors from La Fleche were guided around the historical site by local volunteers last week. The Almshouses
WITH a production of Alice at Abbeyfield School, in Chippenham fast approaching James Dennis, who is playing the White Rabbit, needs help. In his role as the manic bunny, James, 12, desperately needs a pocket watch. At the moment, he's having to make
BABY Cerys Gordon, who entered the world in the back of a Fiesta in Chippenham Community Hospital's car park a year ago, has been celebrating her first birthday with the Gazette and Herald. Mum Stella's waters broke in the car as her husband Stuart rushed
Martin bags the title BIG match weights at Witherington Farm Fish-ery continued this week with both adult and junior anglers getting in on the act. On Saturday in the final match of the Teams of Four competition a bag of 112lb 8oz ensured victory for
MANY Saints fans have sensed that a trip to Cardiff on May 17 was set in stone right from the moment their team thrashed hated rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the Third Round of this year's competition. That tie, played over the opening weekend in January
1976 ... and all that. FA Cup winner Nick Holmes recalls Saints' historic Wembley victory with Mike Turner When did you sense that your name might be on the cup? Right at the start. The lads felt that the writing might be on the wall when we equalised
ADULT Learners' Week runs until Saturday and hundreds of organisations across the country are running free taster sessions covering a variety of courses. The aim of the week is to turn dreams into reality as learning can be the perfect way of exploring
SALISBURY wrestling sensation Tristian Hayes, also known as The Anthrax Kid, is heading down under this week bidding to lift the eight-man single elimination IWA light-heavyweight title. The 22-year-old hairdresser from Wilton is the only English representative
THE latest cabinet to run the borough of Swindon has been revealed. It is to be hoped that there will be a period of much-needed stability in which people from all points in the political spectrum work together for the common good. But what of we, the
A GREAT fanfare accompanied Home secretary David Blunkett's announcement that police officers nationwide will, by the end of the year, be able to hand out on-the-spot fines to the antisocial people whose behaviour is a blight on civilised society. The
FORMER Malmesbury Grammar School pupil Pat Bunton is planning a reunion of her old classmates. She is looking for pupils who left the school between 1962 and 1966. Mrs Bunton, ne Smith, 56, who now lives in North Bradley near Trowbridge, is holding the
THE successful prosecution of benefit cheat Alan Shipway sends a warning message to other fraudsters that there's no place to hide, says North Wiltshire District Council. It says its benefit fraud team is hot on the heels of people who claim benefit payments
COMMENTS made by the Prime Minister Tony Blair last week have been seen by many as the clearest indication yet that RAF Lyneham may be saved from closure. But the station's acting commander, Wing Commander Guy Edwards, has warned his airmen and women
BROWNIES from Yatton Keynell will be collecting money for a new Guides and Brownies headquarters at a giant car boot sale on Sunday. The Brownies will be out collecting at the car boot sale at Castle Combe racing circuit near Chippenham. A share of the
WAYNE Thorne cemented his status as the Chippenham Town fans' terrace hero as he scooped two of the club's four player of the year awards on Friday night. The tough-tackling left back endeared himself to Bluebirds fans with a string of committed displays
CHIPPENHAM Town will travel to Screwfix Direct First Division neighbours Calne Town for their first pre-season friendly on July 11. The Bluebirds entertain Football League new boys Yeovil Town on July 14, and travel to Basingstoke Town on July 26. Dates
THE pioneering spirit of Salisbury businesswoman Samantha Peters and her colleagues has been recognised by their company being awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise. Ms Peters and her colleagues were awarded certificates when travel firm Travel Counsellors
PRODUCTION company Stagecraft of Salisbury has been in Sydney and Miami working on the design and management of sales conferences for a leading pharmaceutical company. Stagecraft's team was responsible for the theme and content of the corporate part of
KATE Gazzard has joined Salisbury public relations and marketing consultancy Paul Sample Corporate Communi-cations as a public relations account executive. Ms Gazzard (30) left London earlier this year, where she was public relations manager for Chesterton
AN ORGANISATION that specialises in working with small to medium sized companies now has a representative in the Salisbury area. Rick Turner, of Allington, is an executive representative of Cavendish Management Resources Ltd (CMR). The company offers
FIGURES released by the National Office of Statistics show that employment in the South West has been stable over the year to January 2003. The employment rate for the three months to January 2003 is at 79 per cent, unchanged from the previous year. Manpower's
BABIES, toddlers and parents all sang along to Malmesbury Library's rhyme time songs on Friday. More than 25 children aged from three months to three years came along with their parents to enjoy a song and a dance with nursery rhymes, action songs and
A DECISION on traffic calming in Bristol Street, Malmesbury, is to be made within the next week. A working group has spent the last three months deciding ways to improve safety on the road, which is notorious for blind bends and narrow pavements. The
SERIOUS damage by off-road vehicles to the Fosse Way at Easton Grey near Malmesbury is threatening to destroy some of the most important Roman remains in Wiltshire. Four-wheel drive vehicles are churning up ruts three-feet deep as they drive on the path
LABOUR peer Roy Hattersley opened Lea and Garsdon Primary School's two new classrooms on Saturday. Governors' chairman Gill Smith said: "We were delighted he agreed to do this. It has always been an excellent school and is a very popular choice with parents
ANGRY traders are getting up a petition to demand more money is spent on car parks in Malmesbury. The chamber of commerce wants North Wiltshire District Council to act to solve the growing parking problems in the town. Traders say those parking in the
JON Lewis grabbed two more wickets to take his season's tally to 22 but he and his Gloucester colleagues couldn't stop Hampshire close play on 351-6. Simon Katich was dismissed just four short of a century against Frizzell County Championship Division
WILTSHIRE'S selectors have opted for a team packed with experience for their final Middleton Cup trial this Sunday against Hampshire at Wootton Bassett. This was to be expected following the two defeats last weekend against Somerset and Oxfordshire when
WILTSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE: IN the Division One meeting of the two promoted sides at Collingbourne, visiting Nationwide House emerged triumphant. Thanks to Mark Flay (51), Mat Vincent (91) and Stuart Archer (71 not out), Nationwide posted a daunting target
DEVIZES picked up from where they left off at the end of last summer as they began the new season with a seven-wicket victory over Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Division One new boys Trowbridge. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Trowbridge made
THE latest job figures for Swindon show that the number of people claiming unemployment benefit has risen by 83, compared to April of last year. Currently, there are 2,643 people drawing unemployment benefit in the town, representing 2.3 per cent of the
CHIPPENHAM Town's dream of playing at a venue fit for the Football League has moved a step closer after a formal planning application for a new stadium was submitted to the council. After months of deliberation, officials at the Dr Martens League Premier
New research by Barclays Bank shows that the South West is the second wealthiest region in the country with an average Cost of Living Adjusted (COLA) salary of £29,076 (actual £21,400). Cotswold was top in the region with a COLA salary of £35,855 (actual
A TEAM of 20 enthusiastic walkers from Wiltshire accountancy firm Robson Taylor have just completed a marathon night-time power walk to raise money for breast cancer research and care. The team, made up of seven staff from the firm's Corsham office, wore
SALISBURY Juniors under 11s completed a memorable season by lifting the South Wilts Youth & Minor League Cup after an 11-0 victory over Worton & Cheverell. Stuart Wiltshire scored five goals in the final, played at Salisbury City's Raymond McEnhill
SOUTH Wilts lost a rain-affected game to Bourne-mouth on Saturday, with a reduced target proving crucial. They batted first and got 207-9 off 21 overs, leaving Bournemouth to chase 120 off 29 overs. South Wilts captain Rob Wade said: "It's difficult to
ARABIAN horses are to make a welcome return to Salisbury Racecourse on Friday evening after an absence of four years. They will take part in a special event for pure-bred and part-bred Arabian horses, arranged by Clarendon Stud to celebrate its tenth
HOLD your breath as one of the UK's most exhilarating motorsport events prepares to hit Thruxton circuit. Rounds five and six of the 2003 Green Flag British Touring Car Championship take place at the circuit near Andover on May 25/26 and you could be
MAY 15: IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: Hercules pilot Flt Lt Dan Richardson had a very special welcome awaiting him when he flew into Basra International Airport. Standing on the Tarmac as he parked the aircraft at the side of the runway was his new wife Jennifer
MAY 15: IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: The first Royal Air Force aircraft to be based in Iraq have arrived on station two Hercules from RAF Lyneham. The aircraft arrived at Basra International Airport at the end of last week. The way had been prepared for them by
MAY 15: IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: EVENING Advertiser reporter Martin Vincent has just returned from a visit to Iraq where he met RAF men and women from Lyneham who are helping to rebuild the war ravaged country. George W Bush has said that the main conflict
PUDDIN the sheep is looking for a new friend after her companion Pip the ram had to be put down last week. The lonely six-year-old ewe has been bleating constantly since losing her best friend. Owner Kim Goodridge, 65, from Elley Green, Neston, said Puddin
The men and women of 9 Supply Regiment Royal Logistical Corps, based at Hullavington, are packing for a six month stint in Iraq. For some it is their first operation. LILY CANTER meets the troops on the eve of departure. MORALE is high at Hullavington
WILTSHIRE is among the areas in England where the otter is returning in numbers after being driven from its habitat nearly 50 years ago. The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust revealed this week that county populations of the aquatic mammal have recovered. The
WILTSHIRE detectives have started the re-investigation into the death of student Rachel Whitear, following concerns raised by her parents. Ms Whitear, who was 21, was found dead in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000 apparently from a drug overdose, and the shocking
FLY-tippers who dumped rubbish in the countryside near Chippenham could land up in court after papers with names and addresses were found in the pile. The Environment Agency is now investigating the evidence after a member of the public discovered the
WILTSHIRE drivers are some of the worst in the country when it comes to "car coma" according to a survey by Castrol. Nine out of ten motorists from the south west admit to switching off and driving on autopilot when they make short, routine journeys to
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: DAN Beck scooped the first team honours as Corsham Town held their annual presentation night at The Southbank on Saturday. The former Chippenham Town youngster took both the players' player and managers' player of the year awards
MALMESBURY Victoria clinched second spot behind champions Percy's FC in the Premier Division of Vanitec Computers sponsored Chippenham League after they picked up maximum points from their weekend games with Winsley and All Cannings A. Malmesbury travelled
SCREWFIX DIRECT PREMIER: DAVE Hopkins is confident he will be appointed as manager of Devizes Town next week after holding successful talks with chairman Chris Belcher. The long-serving defender, 30, is satisfied he can take the club forward next season
PLANS for a massive expansion of the Ramsbury Sports Club were unveiled to the public for the first time on Saturday in the Memorial Hall. The £500,000 scheme, which has been dubbed Project 2005, will be outlined to invited guests at a presentation in
IT was a bitter-sweet moment last week when Potterne mum Judy Noyes sent cheques totalling £820 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, in memory of her husband Chris who died of the disease in February. Most of the money was raised from a barn dance
PUB landlady Frances Boehn has escaped being sent to jail for serving up putrid chicken for a nursery school, although magistrates told her it was a serious offence. On Monday, Boehn, licensee of the Wheatsheaf pub in Chilton Foliat, was sentenced to
THE Devizes pressure group fighting to keep health services in the town has urged as many people as possible to turn up at the board meeting of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust on May 22. It is likely that decisions regarding the future
MARKET Lavington's day centre, giving some older people in the village their only social contact in a week, has been saved thanks to an article in the Gazette and Herald. Despite great efforts by Maureen Brookes, the organiser of the Old School day centre
AS five senior officers of Kennet District Council were being handed their redundancy notices, chief executive Mark Boden was getting a 20 per cent pay rise, it has emerged. Mr Boden's increase in salary understood to be from £75,000 to about £90,000
SWINDON Empty Homes Partnership will mark the National Week of Action on Empty Homes by holding the annual Residential Lettings/Empty Homes Exhibition next week. Swindon Borough Council launched an Empty Homes Strategy in 1997 to promote the return to
Men are not often left holding the baby, but when they are it can seem like a woman's world. Edd Edgell, from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, is determined to change that and has set up a group to support fathers and male
A MAN who was shouting abuse at children while drunk has been fined by magistrates. Security guard Robert Vaughan was told he 'should know better at his age' after appearing in court charged with being drunk and disorderly. Vaughan, 49, of Beatrice Street
Sports mad Kelli Salone had everything going for her a month ago. But now she has lost the love of her life and thieves have stolen her precious £4,500 motorbike IT was a romantic tale to melt the coldest of hearts. Swindon sports fanatic Kelli Salone
DRIVERS from the volunteer Link service are refusing to go to Great Western Hospital in Swindon after they were issued with parking fines, despite displaying their volunteer parking permits. One branch of the Link service, an organisation which helps
VANDALS, graffiti artists, drunks and other anti-social criminals face on-the-spot fines in Swindon by the end of the year. Home Secretary David Blunkett has declared that trials of the controversial fixed penalty notices in four areas a success. Now
GILES SHELDRICK looks at the people who are likely to be on the new-look cabinet, the major decision-making body on Swindon council, and how the three major parties are going to work together Tomorrow Tory leader, Coun Mike Bawden (Old Town and Lawns)
VOLUNTEERS who provide comfort for patients at Salisbury District Hospital have pledged £10,000 towards building a new cardiac suite from funds they collect. The Women's Royal Voluntary Service raises funds through a trolley service throughout the hospital
SALISBURY District Hospital said farewell last week to a man described as one of its "most respected and best loved managers". The tribute was paid to Gwyn Blenkinsop, when he retired from the hospital after 44 years in the NHS - the last 20 of them in
MEMBERS of the armed forces past and present were on parade in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon for a rededication service at St Thomas's Church. The parade, complete with standard bearers and members of the Royal British Legion, marched from the Guildhall
A BEMERTON Heath boy, who "caused his community to live in fear" has become the first person in south Wiltshire to be made the subject of an antisocial behaviour order. The court order, secured by Salisbury district council with the support of the police
FIREFIGHTERS wearing breathing apparatus took more than three hours to bring a blaze under control at a thatched property in Wilsford, near Amesbury, on Sunday. Six pumping appliances and two special vehicles were called to the fire at Parsonage Cottage
THIEVES stole cash from a metal box used to collect donations from visitors to Cherhill's White Horse. The money is used for the upkeep of the famous landmark, a historic monument. The thieves smashed a padlock on the metal collection box at the entrance
A FARMER shot his neighbour's dog which had savaged two sheep grazing on his land at Spirthill near Calne. Calne Police however, said the farmer had been within his rights to shoot the collie when it broke into his field and attacked the sheep. A spokesman
A GROUP of Yatesbury residents were stunned by the public reaction to a history exhibition they organised charting the village's past. The exhibition was held in the John Stewart Memorial Hall last weekend and included photographs of the village at the
A NEW course will soon be served up at Springfields special needs school, in Calne, with the development of a new £380,000 training kitchen complex. Most of the cash will be invested in building and equipping the new single-story building, which will
DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram has pledged to do what he can to get the Health Secretary Alan Milburn to intervene if the proposed new health facility in Devizes does not provide basic services such as hospital beds, a maternity unit and minor injuries unit
THE 4th Devizes Guides celebrated the success of two of their number who were presented with Baden Powell awards last week, the highest awards Guides can achieve. Naomi Ibbetson, 16, and Hannah Neate, 15, received their awards at the London Road Youth
THE Prince of Wales will make his first official visit to Devizes next week when he follows in his mother's footsteps and takes a boat trip down the Caen Hill flight of locks. In his capacity as patron of the Waterways Trust, he is visiting Wiltshire
AS five senior officers of Kennet District Council were being handed their redundancy notices, chief executive Mark Boden was getting an impressive 20 per cent pay rise, it has emerged. Mr Boden's increase in salary understood to be from £75,000 to around
BANK cashpoint tricksters have cleared out a Marlborough couple's current account using a variation of a scam known as the Lebanese Loop. Police have warned all people using hole-in-the- wall cash dispensers to be on their guard and not to use the machines
CAR boot stallholders have been warned to watch their wares after one trusting vendor had two valuable rings stolen. The stallholder was unloading their car at the boot sale held on the May Day bank holiday when a customer inquired if they had any jewellery
THE sound of the loud music from the bank holiday rave in Savernake Forest may have died away but questions are still reverberating about why police allowed the event to continue. Michael Ancram, the MP for Devizes, is the latest to become involved in
CARE worker Ed Fogg will get his day in court next month in his long battle for justice over the death of his 22-month-old son Jacob. He has just completed a 70-mile walk to raise funds towards being legally represented at an inquest taking place in London
ROLEPLAYING exercises are to be used to help beat bogus callers targeting people who live near Swindon. Cricklade and Wootton Bassett Community Safety Partnership, a multi-agency group which includes police from the two towns, is staging a special presentation
NEWLY hatched ducklings are making their first forays around Shaftesbury Lake under the protective wing of their mother. But what should be an idyllic image is tainted by the rubbish that adorns the surface of the lake - just weeks after it was dredged
GREG Dyke, Director General of the BBC, is visiting Walcot tomorrow to see the Wiltshire Sound Voice Box shop. The Sussex Square shop has been open for two months and serves as the centre for a number of broadcasts from the area. It is one of 52 voice
IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: Hercules pilot Flt Lt Dan Richardson had a very special welcome awaiting him when he flew into Basra International Airport. Standing on the Tarmac as he parked the aircraft at the side of the runway was his new wife Jennifer. She is
DAVID Bullock of the Gloucestershire Bat Group will give a talk at the Cotswold Water Park on May 25 at 8pm. The event includes a guided walk to help visitors discover the bat life of the park. The diverse eco-system in the Cotswold Water Park supports
AN academic study, funded by the Swindon based Economic and Social Research Council, claims that deception is the price of a healthy democracy. A key conclusion of research carried out by Dr Glen Newey of Strathclyde University, is that political deception
SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL REVIEW: WRITER, broadcasting smallholder and cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has pledged to help revive the fortunes of Swindon Farmers' Market. He was taking questions from the audience after his talk, when a woman told him
LANDSCAPING work to transform an area of wasteland into parkland has begun. The site, off Quarry Road in Old Town is designated an area of scientific interest. And initial fears that a colony of badgers could be disturbed by the work have been allayed
SWINDON childminders are holding a party at the Family Resource Centre, Gladstone Street, tomorrow between 9.45am and 2pm. The event has been arranged to promote registered childminding. Childminding groups will be presented with craft packs, which have
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the many residents of Quemerford Ward, in Calne, for supporting my recent attempt to become a Calne town councillor, sadly, unsuccessfully. As I have been living in the ward since moving to the area 20 years
VOLUNTEERS who provide comfort for patients at Salisbury District Hospital have pledged £10,000 towards building a new cardiac suite from funds they collect. The Women's Royal Voluntary Service raises funds through a trolley service throughout the hospital
TODDLERS have raised more than £6,000 by singing their favourite nursery rhymes and songs. Children from the Princess Christian Nurseries in Peatmoor contributed £430 to that total when they took part in the Chatterbox Challenge, a national initiative
As someone "mentioned in dispatches" since the local elections may I put the record straight? I have not been part of Mrs Coleman's "on-going negotiations". I hope she will repeat David Packham's invitation of three years ago to Tory leader Toby Sturgis
BLUNSDON'S village shop has been receiving wide acclaim from villagers despite having been open for just over a month. The shop, which is located inside a temporary building in a corner of the village hall car park on Blunsdon High Street, opened at the
THE 38th annual Wessex Walks to Salisbury, in aid of Save the Children, took place on Sunday, a fine, dry day with hundreds of walkers approacing the city from Devizes, Wimborne, Winchester and other starting points. Salisbury's mayor, Sue Mallory, and
WITH a final decision imminent on the future of Malmesbury Hospital, the Government has indicated what it thinks of the demand of the town and surrounding villages that this vital health facility must be maintained. Health ministers have told local MP
PUPILS and staff at Durrington's Upper Avon school are trying to come to terms this week with the death of one of the school's popular students, who was found hanged at his home on Friday. Peter Cooper, who celebrated his 16th birthday in February, lived
MY father and I are writing a book about Roundway Park and the Colston family. Roundway, designed by James Wyatt with grounds laid out by Humphrey Repton, has played an important role in the history of Devizes and we would be grateful for any information
POLICE have re-appealed for witnesses to an incident in which a cyclist escaped with bruises after an incident with a car. The woman, aged 35, was cycling along Cirencester Road in Cricklade when she fell off her bike to avoid the car. She suffered bruises
A WELCOME breakthrough at the Railway Museum? (EA May 6). I don't think so! It is not 'full steam ahead.' Although there are some good points in the listed 'Plan of Action,' sorting out the car parking costs etc, the main ingredient is still missing!
NEXT time 11-year-old Rose Archer sees a careful driver taking a moment to slow down on the stretch of road outside her school, she can feel very proud of herself. And with good reason, because she is one of several local schoolchildren whose road safety
A BEMERTON Heath boy, who "caused his community to live in fear" has become the first person in south Wiltshire to be made the subject of an antisocial behaviour order. The court order, secured by Salisbury district council with the support of the police
IN answer to Coun D Benfield's statement that there had not been many complaints to the road calming bumps on the roads in Covingham, he is wrong. The people who objected are fed-up with everything being boxed up tied with ribbon even before public meetings
I AM writing to let you know that, following my last letter outlining the country's need to improve energy efficiency, there has been significant improvement in the attitudes and behaviour of many people towards energy efficiency. For the third year running
A GROUP of village rugby players have received a sponsorship boost from Devizes brewer Wadworth. The club, formerly known as the Benger Nomads due to their lack of a home pitch, have been renamed the Wellesley Arms Rugby Club after the Devizes firm agreed
CHIPPENHAM RUGBY: CHIPPENHAM held a fun day to mark the achievements and progress of their Mini Playing Section at Allington Field on Sunday. The event began with an Olympic style series of events and featured presentations to players of age group sides
LONGLEAZE School A team won the North Wiltshire Primary Schools Tag Rugby Festival, held at Wootton Bassett Rugby Club. Nine schools from Malmesbury, Chippenham and the Wootton Bassett area took part in a keenly-contested event last Thursday. The competition
THE skateboard saga dates back to February 2001, when a £50,000 skatepark was opened in Chippenham's Monkton Park. It replaced an existing skateboard ramp that was closed to make way for the new North Wiltshire Council offices and the new venue attracted
LIAKUT Hussain, 23, has been jailed for eight months after he sped off in a Porsche 911 at the end of a test drive in Chippenham. Swindon Crown Court heard Hussain, of Hounslow, Middlesex, pretended to be a mechanic when he and Imran Ashraf went to view
DEVELOPERS have put forward two solutions to remove toxic land from a controversial housing development site. But Corsham residents living near the land at Pockeridge Farm and Peel Circus fear both solutions could be hazardous to their health. Reports
RESIDENTS had their say about the local community at a consultation with Westlea Housing Association last week. Westlea took an orange bus to Rudloe housing estate, where it owns many of the homes, to gather the views of residents on a range of estate-related
THE family of Ross Tamin, who died during a climbing expedition in America a year ago, say they are still struggling to come to terms with his death. Mr Tamin, 35, who was born and grew up in Chippenham, fell to his death while climbing a rock face at
YOUNG offender Lee Turner has decided to turn his life around after a Corsham businessman showed faith in him by defending him in court earlier this year. But he says that before he can wipe the slate clean, he may have to go to prison for non-payment
EMBATTLED GP Barney Williams is celebrating a county court victory that could boost the campaign to keep his surgery open. Dr Williams, who runs the Marshfield Road Surgery in Chippenham, has been at loggerheads with the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary
RUMOURS are rife that Prince Harry is dating a Chippenham girl, after he was spotted cosying up to Laura Gerard-Leigh, 18, from Kellaways, at the Badminton Horse Trials. The latest in a long line of possible suitors for the 18-year-old prince, Miss Gerard-Leigh
SALISBURY Rugby Club's investment in its youth policy is beginning to pay dividends after the Castle Road outfit were crowned champions of the prestigious Lytchett Minster seven-a-side competition for the first time since 1993 when they were captained
ALMOST 250 youngsters from 21 different schools packed the playing fields of Salisbury Rugby Club on Wednesday for the biggest tag rugby festival ever organised in the area for primary schools. The event was the culmination of a teacher training session
SOUTH Wilts Cricket Club's hopes of securing their first win of the season were thwarted by the rain for the second week running. Having had their match at Hampshire Academy washed out seven days earlier, Rob Wade's side were in confident mood against
EVERY woman has a few guilty secrets. In fear and trembling, I agreed to allow mine to be brought to light. My greatest sins, decided Julia Forder, with a tone of honeyed warmth and understanding, were a shocking pink slash-neck T-shirt and a pale pink
A DOWNTON vet and her horse Doc-tor Fox have qualified for the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead writes Clare Savage. Rebecca Hamil-ton-Fletcher, who has worked at Endell Veterinary Practice in Salis-bury for 13 years, said she was thrilled
RISING golf star Henrietta Brock-way will make history later this month by becoming the youngest female golfer to compete on the Ladies European Tour. The Mere youngster, who only celebrated her 13th birthday in January, has been invited to join Europe's
Matt O'Dowd's Olympic Games dream is back on track after another injury-plagued winter. The Swindon distance runner has been beset by fitness problems throughout his career and another bout of tendonitis had left him inactive since January forcing his
WORK is well underway on the final section of the North Wiltshire Rivers Route, and it should be complete by the autumn. North Wiltshire District Council is building the foot and cycle path, as part of the National Cycle Network. The new section will
NORTH Wiltshire teams were beaten by Melksham at this year's young farmers' county rally held in Sherston on Sunday. The competition tests the wits, skill and stamina of young farmers aged between ten and 26 across the county with competitions for a pantomime
SOCCER playing colleagues of the late Andy Britten of Pewsey marked the first anniversary of his death with two special matches. Mr Britten, 42, collapsed and died from a heart attack on May 4 last year. He formerly played with Pewsey Vale Football Club
THE Rock Day that has wooed music fans into Pewsey for the past two years continues on May 24 although the original organiser, Alan Dainton, has moved away. The event was launched by former sports centre manager Mr Dainton, who ran the Coopers Arms, and
INCREASING Government bureaucracy has been blamed by Pewsey Parish Council chairman Colin Lampard for his decision to stand down after 33 years. Coun Lampard, who was one of the longest serving council chairmen in the country, took colleagues by surprise
THE next meeting of the Wiltshire Rural Business Club takes place on Tuesday at the Black Dog, Chilmark. The meeting begins with the club's AGM and is followed by a presentation by Roly Frost. Mr Frost is the managing director of Subtle Improvements Ltd
THE latest seminar organised by the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership took place yesterday at Wilton House. Entitled Frightening or Fascinating? The Future of IT in the Workplace, it addressed issues arising from the use of IT and new technology in
A SOUTH Wiltshire businessman is celebrating another boost to his business after his website came to the attention of national heritage bosses. Ed Thomas of Amesbury exhibitions and events company Displayer was chosen by English Heritage and the National
WATER watchdog WaterVoice Wessex is holding a public meeting next Tuesday in Cholderton, the village which is home to England's smallest regulated water company. It says that everyone is welcome to attend the meeting at the Red House Hotel, particularly
A CAR accident at the Kingway Bridge at Corston was one of three causing delays to commuters last Tuesday morning, as drivers returned to work after the bank holiday weekend. The car left the road at the Kingway Bridge at about 8am when the driver, who
THE School House on Hollow Street in Great Somerford is to be auctioned next month. The building next to the old primary school has been vacant since March. The St Mary's Lands Trust, which is responsible for its disposal, has set June 24 at 6.30pm in
HOUSEHOLDERS at Backhill, in Malmesbury, are demanding action to curb rowdy youths after a man was assaulted outside his home on Saturday. The 26-year-old was left with a bruising from the attack after he had gone out to complain about noise created by
RUMOURS are rife that Prince Harry is dating a Chippenham girl, after he was spotted cozying up to Laura Gerard-Leigh, 18, from Kellaways, at the Badminton Horse Trials. The latest in a long line of possible suitors for the 18-year-old prince, Miss Gerard-Leigh
THE fate of RAF Lyneham still hangs in the balance even though Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised the work of the base during the war with Iraq. When questioned by North Wiltshire MP James Gray he seemed to suggest the base would be involved for many
KENNET District Council chief executive Mark Boden has just been awarded a whacking great pay rise. His salary hike comes at a time when council tax bills in the district have gone up by more than 14 per cent and other officers are being made redundant
MALMESBURY'S first league win of 2003 arrived in a hurry courtesy of a devastating spell of new ball inswing bowling from Indian all-rounder BK Majumder. The overseas man, whose presence was badly missed as he experienced visa difficulties last summer
ANDY Dawson marked his Chippenham debut with a four wicket haul to help his new side to a comfortable four wicket win over Knowle in the West of England Premier League Division Two. After seamer Paul Bates had made the initial breakthrough by dismissing
GOATACRE'S inexperienced line-up fell 67 runs short of their target after a spirited reply against fancied Dumbleton on Saturday. The hosts fielded first after winning the toss with a side containing six players with little first team experience. A wayward
CORSHAM travelled to South Wilts in the National Knockout Cup on Sunday. Corsham captain Craig Gibbens lost the toss, and South Wilts elected to bat. Paul Clifford and Toby Sharpe again bowled well and it was Clifford who took early wickets, removing
CORSHAM entertained Thornbury on Saturday in their first home encounter of the season, following last weeks abandonment away at Weston-super-Mare. Again the weather was to play an important part, and rain delayed the start by an hour and a half and to
WOOTTON Bassett suffered a batting collapse as the fell 22 runs short of their adjusted target in a rain-affected match at Colwall on Saturday. Luke Leach and Ian Lancaster both shone on their debuts for the away side, who elected to field first in gloomy
ACCOUNTANTS in Swindon have expressed surprise at a survey which said they are among the highest paid of their profession. The new research indicates that accountants in the town receive £2,000 more in their annual pay packets (£38,000) than the national
Salisbury Journal/High Post Corporate Golf Challenge update MORE than 20 teams have already entered the inaugural Salisbury Journal/High Post Corporate Golf Challenge which takes place on Thursday, June 5. The event promises to be one of the area's most
CHALKE Valley Cricket Club secured a resounding eight-wicket victory against the Dorset Wanderers in the first match of the season, played at the new Broad Chalke Sports Centre. Chalke Valley bowled out the visitors for 139 with Nick Gulliver taking 2
SALISBURY Tennis Club's age group teams in the Hants and IOW Veterans League have made a flying start to the new season by winning all of their first six matches, with men and ladies notching three victories each. Results have particularly pleased Phil
SALISBURY Racecourse today hosts its second fixture of the year following its successful start on Sunday, May 4, when more than 9,000 people flocked to the Nether-hampton venue. The sun shone as favourites dominated the meeting, winning six of the seven
IN their first Middleton Cup trial match held on Saturday at Bath Wiltshire went down by nine shots, losing 124-115 to Somerset. However, the county selectors will have been pleased with some excellent individual performances, which will give them food
MAY 15: A SOLDIER who deserted the Iraqi army has been fined by Swindon magistrates after he was caught stealing alcohol from a town centre store. Farouk Ali was drunk when he was caught taking three cans of lager from Marks and Spencer, the court was
THE Royal International Air Tattoo 2003 is being staged at RAF Fairford over the weekend of July 19 and 20 in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund. In today's uncertain financial climate, the Tattoo assumes even greater importance in our determination to
PLANS to create a new school year with terms of a more even length and a shorter summer holiday have received a general welcome from schools, but divided parents. Wiltshire County Council's cabinet has now finalised its term dates for 2004/2005. The county
EXPLORER David Hempleman-Adams is preparing for his next big adventure to travel solo across the Atlantic in a traditional open wicker basket. This week Mr Hempleman-Adams, 46, from Box, announced he would be attempting the ballooning challenge for a
VEHICLES from a bygone era attracted a crowd of thousands to Castle Combe race circuit at the weekend. The organisers of the two-day Castle Combe Steam and Vintage Rally, now in its 18th year, said they were shocked by the huge turnout. Rally committee
SINCE opening in September 2001, Corsham Media Park has gone from strength to strength, becoming a unique business community in the South West. A major deal, sealed with BT last week, looks set to push the park even further towards the forefront of digital
DEVIZES Town raised £5,000 towards the cost of their new changing rooms at Nursteed Road as more than 180 teams contested their fifth annual six-a-side extravaganza. The action began on Friday evening with 112 players at U7 and U8 level enjoying a festival
ROBERT Brothers' Circus is in Chippenham and I got a taste of life at the sharp end this week. Clutching a handful of ten-inch steel blades, ace knife-thrower Maverick propped me up against a wooden board and complained about feeling a little tired. He
HUNDREDS of youngsters from across the county went in search of cup glory as the Mid Wilts Youth and Minor League staged their cup finals at Melksham Town FC at the weekend. The weekend's action kicked off with two exhibition games in the U7s and U8s
EXPERTS face a race against time to map out the remains of a Roman farmstead discovered by archaeology enthusiast Karen Burgess while walking her dogs on a building site. Mrs Burgess, 44, of Newcroft Road, Calne, discovered fragments of ancient pottery
WILTSHIRE County Council has been applauded for maximising funding for schools this year, but headteachers warn money will still be tight with extra demands on school budgets. On May 2, Education Secretary Charles Clarke published figures showing which
HELLENIC LEAGUE: PEWSEY Vale will play their football in the Hellenic League Premier Division next season after officials decided to relegate only one team into Division One. The Wiltshire side finished third from bottom in their first season at Premier
A CYCLE path running alongside the North Wiltshire rivers route is near completion. The route will continue the existing path from Mortimer's Wood, just south of Pewsham Way in Chippenham, and will take in Reybridge and Lacock. It forms a 20-mile stretch
POTTERNE Cricket Club is making full use of its new artificial pitch, recently installed with the aid of a National Lottery Awards for All grant. The club, whose first XI plays in Wiltshire League division one and second XI in division seven, are now
CUSTOMERS at the Old Crown pub in Ogbourne St George took part in a different sort of triathalon on Monday. More than 70 people joined in the event, which involved running a marathon, rowing the equivalent distance of crossing the Channel from England
WOOTTON Bassett is in urgent need of retained firefighters after the closure of the St Ivel factory forced many of them to find work outside the town. Many of the local firefighters worked at the dairy plant and were allowed to respond to calls during
A PIZZA delivery man has been robbed of £38 and the pizza he was delivering. The 20-year-old was unhurt but shaken when two men threatened him before taking the money and food. The crime happened at 11pm on Tuesday evening, as the victim was making a
THE 38th annual Wessex Walks to Salisbury, in aid of Save the Children, took place on Sunday, a fine, dry day with hundreds of walkers approacing the city from Devizes, Wimborne, Winchester and other starting points. Salisbury's mayor, Sue Mallory, and
PUPILS and staff at Durrington's Upper Avon school are trying to come to terms this week with the death of one of the school's popular students, who was found hanged at his home on Friday. Peter Cooper, who celebrated his 16th birthday in February, lived
A POLICE investigation has been launched into the death of a Figheldean man following a car crash in Dorset on Friday evening. Stuart Cross (24) died after the Ford Orion he was travelling in hit a pedestrian barrier at high speed in Poole and burst into
CALNE collector Tracey Wilson denied making a mountain out of a molehill after her favourite painted mole was stolen from her front garden. Mrs Wilson, 36, of Stokes Croft, who has collected ornamental moles for five years, was heartbroken by the loss
AN elderly couple in Curzon Street, Calne has apologised to local people for delays on a narrow road because they are putting up scaffolding on the front of their 17th century home. The house, in the busy thoroughfare, is undergoing extensive renovation
A CALAMITY at the funeral of Pauline Hewer, known affectionately as Calne's "Salvation Army Lady" was narrowly avoided thanks to quick-thinking teenagers who extinguished a burning car minutes before her horse-drawn hearse passed by. Teenagers David Malone
THE Swindon Town backroom staff take on the Swindon Asians in a charity match at the County Ground on Tuesday, May 20. The Town team will feature the likes of Paul Bodin and Phil King, with proceeds going to the Iraqi Children fund. Admission is £3 for
SWINDON Schools' successful under 15 side aim to collect their second piece of silverware of the week this evening. Fresh from capturing the Fred Coleman Memorial Trophy on Monday, Swindon take on their Vale of the White Horse counterparts in the Hobbs
CHEF Nicholas Davies who stole money from the wine bar where he worked, has been sentenced to a nine-month community rehabilitation order, formerly known as probation. Davies, 26, of Mayenne Place, Devizes, pleaded guilty before Kennet magistrates on
WOOTTON Bassett's Under Eights are celebrating victory in a national football tournament. More than 120 junior teams from all over the country congregated at Butlins in Bognor Regis, and Bassett's promising youngsters reigned supreme. The Ballards Ash
WOMEN who have had an abortion can get support from The Sycamore Centre in Devizes. Two volunteers at the centre have just completed a training course and are qualified to offer support to women and their partners. Alison North, administrator at The Sycamore
WHEN Terry and Joan Kelley tell people that they intend to live at Shane's Castle in Devizes the reaction is usually one of incredulity. The Grade II listed building is situated on the corner of the busy A361 Bath Road linking Devizes with Trowbridge
TEACHERS at Devizes School are to receive a cash bonus for their efforts in improving GCSE results. The school has received a school achievement award from the Department for Education and Skills in recognition of the improvement in its GCSE results from
SOUTHBROOM Surgery patient Christopher Patey galvanised support from staff for a sponsored tricycle ride. Mr Patey and GP Dr John Heaton-Renshaw, nurses, admin staff and friends of the surgery took it in turns to cycle round the car park of the surgery
A VILLAGE primary school's May fair on Saturday is sure to go with a bang thanks to a special sausage named in its honour. The Dauntsey Delight is being made by Bromham-based Sandridge Farm Bacon for the event being held at Dauntsey's Aided Primary School
THE first Continental market held in Marlborough was viewed with mixed feelings by the public and by the town's regular traders. The market was organised by the Marlborough area Development Trust in a bid to woo more trade to the town. Marlborough Chamber
DRIVERS from the volunteer Link service are refusing to transport patients to Swindon's Great Western Hospital after they were issued with parking fines, despite displaying their parking permits. The Devizes branch of the Link service, a voluntary organisation
TEACHING staff at Preshute School, near Marlborough, can go to the top of the class after getting top marks from an Ofsted inspection. Inspectors said standards in English and science are among the top five per cent in the country. And they said: "This
RETIRED surveyor Bill Cavill was sworn in as the Mayor of Marlborough on Monday to take the town into an important year in its history. Coun Cavill, who has served as deputy mayor for the past year, will be in office for the first few months of 2004 when
POLICE in Marlborough are investigating claims that 12-year-old Louisa Mallett was pulled from the eight-foot high roof of a playground shelter. Louisa's parents say it's a miracle that the incident did not leave her paralysed for life. Police are now
DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott is being asked to investigate why a privately run company can put up enormous radio masts without having to seek planning consent. The question has been put to Mr Prescott in his capacity as Minister for Local Government
POLICE have said it was little short of a miracle that no-one was badly hurt when a car collided with a bus near the Sharcott turning south of Pewsey on Friday evening. Officers said they were amazed that car driver Gary Mills, from Enford, and his four
IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: The first Royal Air Force aircraft to be based in Iraq have arrived on station - two Hercules from RAF Lyneham. The aircraft arrived at Basra International Airport at the end of last week. The way had been prepared for them by small
IRAQ AFTER THE WAR: EVENING Advertiser reporter Martin Vincent has just returned from a visit to Iraq where he met RAF men and women from Lyneham who are helping to rebuild the war ravaged country. George W Bush has said that the main conflict is over
THE SWINDON Stop the War Coalition is organising a coach to join a national rally in London in support of Palestine. The rally is organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and takes place in Trafalgar Square. Speakers are set to include journalist
SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL REVIEW: THE mysteries of table tennis came under the spotlight. England number one seed Matthew Syed and American author and table tennis fanatic Jerome Charyn were in conversation with festival organiser Matt Holland in the
Bride of the Year Lucy Griffin knows she won't be having a bad hair day when she gets married this summer. That's because the 20-year-old from Covingham is receiving first class treatment from hair and beauty expert Sharron Whiteley. Dental nurse Lucy
STORE owner John Holmes gave scores of pensioners a musical treat to remember. Mr Holmes, of Holmes Music in Faringdon Road, whisked 100 people off to Turner's Old Time Music Hall in Northampton. He has been organising the musical outings for 10 years
Ferndale Junior School in Swindon is hosting an international gathering tonight. Pupils and teachers from five different schools are scheduled to take part. The visit is part of the school's Comenius Socrates programme, and includes staff from Italy,
A CYCLE path running alongside the North Wiltshire rivers route is near completion. The route will continue the existing path from Mortimer's Wood, just south of Pewsham Way in Chippenham, and will take in Reybridge and Lacock. It forms a 20-mile stretch
HONDA doesn't just make great car ads - the firm is making Wiltshire Ambulance Service's job easier. The South Marston based car maker presented the service with four Honda CR-V rapid response vehicles, especially adapted for the emergency service. "The
SALISBURY District Hospital said farewell last week to a man described as one of its "most respected and best loved managers". The tribute was paid to Gwyn Blenkinsop, when he retired from the hospital after 44 years in the NHS - the last 20 of them in
HAVING completed my term as Mayor of Chippenham, I would like to thank everyone, too numerous to mention individually, who helped make it such a fantastic, if exhausting, experience. During the year my wife and I attended more than 200 engagements some
SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Student disc jockeys got into the groove for the Swindon Cancer Appeal. Swindon's New College was transformed into a ministry of sound as about 300 students watched DJs from around the town battle it out with MCs for music supremacy
MEMBERS of the armed forces past and present were on parade in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon for a rededication service at St Thomas's Church. The parade, complete with standard bearers and members of the Royal British Legion, marched from the Guildhall
THE farmyard came to town for the benefit of children at the Headstart Nursery in West Swindon. Some 46 toddlers at the Delta Office Park nursery had the opportunity to take a close look at ducklings, lambs and a baby goat. The animals were taken into
MAY I refer to the Devizes Hospital situation and the recent articles and letters in the Gazette and Herald. One article by Jill Crooks quotes the £7 million plan for the Green Lane site but I think I am correct that this plan has never been on the agenda
A SOLDIER who deserted the Iraqi army has been fined by Swindon magistrates after he was caught stealing alcohol from a town centre store. Farouk Ali was drunk when he was caught taking three cans of lager from Marks and Spencer, the court was told. The
RESIDENTS living on Salisbury's Bishopdown Farm estate claim supermarket giant Asda has got its sums wrong. Asda said last week that it was encouraged by the public response to a two-day exhibition revealing its plans to build an Asda store on land it
WITH 87 per cent of all the new housing in Kennet scheduled to be built in Devizes, perhaps the new councillors, especially those representing the Guardians, will redouble the efforts of the past members in seeing that the townspeople's views are more
I AM sure many of your readers must be as concerned as I am about the Parliamentary Dictatorship that is steadily being imposed on the United Kingdom. The Government with their unhealthy majority (for democracy I mean) and many MPs who lack 'Fire in their
THERE might be a certain inevitability that, when a Continental market is introduced to Marlborough, the chamber of commerce would throw its hands up in horror, protesting about the unwelcome competition to our member businesses from external traders
A POLICE investigation has been launched into the death of a Figheldean man following a car crash in Dorset on Friday evening. Stuart Cross (24) died after the Ford Orion he was travelling in hit a pedestrian barrier at high speed in Poole and burst into
IN April 2003, I set out on an epic journey along the Great Wall of China for the first all-female walk of the Great Wall. I was joining an amazing Karen Churches, who has been planning the first all-female walk of the Great Wall of China in support of
Thank you to the residents of Swindon who took the trouble to vote on May 1, every member of a political party would echo that I'm sure. I hope you enjoyed the variety of ways to vote, let's hope we see phone and internet voting again. As a Labour councillor
I NOTE that once again you have printed letters (Frank Avenell May 2 and R W Selway May 9) that contain misleading and incorrect information about asylum seekers and refugees. It needs to be stated that, out of all the world's refugees and asylum seekers
I HAVE never known a council waste our money for pathetic things so much as Swindon Council. All the lumps and bumps put down Covingham Drive unbelievable as this road does not have any crossing at all. How would they like to be disabled like me? Every
THE growing season is upon us. Yes the humps are growing like mushrooms, the traffic lights like runner beans and with the road closure like blocked drains, what a mess! I agree with the fact that the people who speed are a danger and they need to be
Peter Thorburn has predicted that Zurich Premiership fall-guys Bristol Shoguns will come out fighting next season - despite losing their millionaire backer and several top players. Wealthy businessman Malcolm Pearce yesterday reaffirmed that he is unable
Swanage & Wareham U15s 0 Melksham/Devizes U15s 19 THE combined U15s side rounded their season off with a win in a curtain-raiser for the senior county match taking place between Dorset/Wilts and Oxford. With several players absent through injury,
RUGBY players from Pewsey and Marlborough joined forces on Saturday to raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The charity day was held at in memory of long-serving Pewsey member Sarah Pike, who died on January 23, aged 30. Mrs Pike, who left husband
