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When they've spent that much money Tee hee!

A 24-year-old man accused of trying to rob an Old Town mini market has been remanded in custody. Christopher Crawford appeared before Swindon crown court on bail in connection with the alleged attempted robbery. But he was remanded in custody

Two more men have appeared in court accused of being involved in the cultivation of cannabis. Mustafa Duka, 25, and Elis Kollabani, 24, were arrested in connection with investigations into alleged 'cannabis factories'. It brings to seven the amount

A MEMORIAL cricket match is to take place in Malmesbury tomorrow in memory of Sam Higginbottom who died in a car accident in November. Seventeen year old Sam, who lived in Lea with his family, was driving his green Ford Focus on the B4042, near Wootton

We had a six hour coach journey up to Yorkshire this week for our County Championship game - and I can't say much for Chris Tremlett's DVD collection. Chris is my roommate, and is a brilliant one, but I'm not sure of his taste in films. He's just bought

I AM writing to convey many thanks to your readers for the support that the towns of Marlborough and Devizes and their people gave to my soldiers while they were collecting money for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) on April 16 and 17. Both days were

ONCE it used to be that if a young man went abroad and worked in a third world country as a volunteer for no pay, it was looked on as an honourable thing to do. That's what schoolboy William Gray has just done in Nepal, at a time when that country

THANKS to the very hard work of our many friends and supporters, the Devizes Branch of the RNLI raised £5,470.59 from Flag Week and Flag Day this year. I am once again immensely grateful to our many volunteers both in Devizes and the surrounding villages

THE residents and staff of Kingston House, Derry Hill, near Calne, would like to thank everyone who was involved in putting on their fashion show last Wednesday which raised the magnificent sum of £1,413.92p. The wonderful clothes were lent to us by

I AM writing to make a public apology. Last week I parked my car outside my house in Church Walk, Devizes, with my rear wheel approximately 12ins over the double yellow lines. This left a mere 15ft of road space for motorists to pass, and caused, in

WITH regards to the letter from Terry Strange (Gazette, April 10) I wonder if Monkton Park should now be renamed Monkton Gorge as driving through the new houses built at the top of Cocklebury Road reminds me of Cheddar Gorge with its high sides. Luckily

I was greatly saddened by the plight of the lady covering your front page (Gazette, April 10), and of how frustrating it must be to be awaiting physio input as part of her rehabilitation programme in an apparently deteriorating situation. However,

YOUR readers will recall that it was our late daughter Sarah's wish that any donations in her memory should go to Tearfund. The charity has written to say that so far, excellent gifts totalling £1,036.39 have been received and for which it is most

IF Robert Hayter would only stop writing his endless inconsequential letters and take up reading. He would then on entering the library find no end of information from staff and leaflets about handing in lost property. There was no need to behave in

I AM writing in response to the article regarding the closure of the Faccenda factory in Sutton Benger and the short sighted and selfish attitude of some villagers. Although Faccenda took over in 2000 the factory has been there for more than 50 years

Gymnasts from the prestigious Wiltshire School of Gymnastics (WSG) in Melksham again put in excellent performances at the South West Compulsory and BDP Grades Competitions hosted by the club. The competitions were attended by 87 gymnasts from 18 clubs

CERTAINLY there are some arguments in favour of CCTV in Malmesbury but such surveillance should be carried out in a proper and secure manner. Before they agreed to CCTV did Malmesbury Town Council look into the details of how it would operate? The

IN the early part of February, the Gazette published an article in your newspaper relating to the discovery by our King Charles Cavalier puppy, Percy, of an unexploded flare mortar near Redhorn Vedette. With the best of intentions I brought the mortar

Aikido: All four of the Devizes Budo Club Aikido students who entered gradings in Aylesbury last week walked away with top scoring passes. Simon Taylor gained his Brown Belt and the other three Candidates; Dave Wilkinson, Mary Hutchings and Alison Pratt

TWO retired doctors say their lives have been made a misery by a gang of yobs who terrorise their village. Dr Louise Allard, 57, and her husband Dr Anthony Clarke, 63, say they are sworn at when leave home in Market Place, Colerne, and they fear for

PUB giant J D Wetherspoon has made a surprise bid to move to Calne. The company confirmed it was interested in buying a town centre property. It is believed the chain, which has 692 pubs in the UK, wants to buy and renovate a listed building in Church

A post-mortem examination has revealed that tragic mum-of-four Joanna O'Callaghan who died suddenly while breastfeeding her youngest daughter, died from a rare heart defect. Mrs O'Callaghan, 38, from Westcroft, Chippenham, died from a condition known

A SOUTH African teenager who could not afford to have an eye test or buy glasses in his home country, is to be seen by Malmesbury opticians. Pholoso Diraditsile, 14, together with ten other teenagers from the shanty towns around Johannesburg, are staying

FLOOD prevention plans will be discussed by North Wiltshire District Council tonight after parts of the area were submerged three times in one year. A plan drawn up to give clear guidelines on how to act during bad weather will be discussed at a meeting

WIDOWER Dave Chivers has organised a special concert in memory of his wife Carol who died from breast cancer in 2006. The father-of-two is hoping to raise money for Dorothy House carers who looked after Mrs Chivers before she died by organising and appearing

The Queen has honoured Chippenham firm SunGard, whose hi-tech security systems are used at major sporting venues across the country. SunGard, with offices at Methuen Park, Bath Road, Chippenham, and Marshfield, has received the The Queen's Award for

SCHOOL pupils in Hullavington have helped put the village in the history books by burying a time capsule. Youngsters from the primary school put together a box full of items they felt represented life in 2008 and buried it at the new Swallow View housing

MEL Lowry, who threw himself into the life of Marlborough after moving to the town in 1978, has died at the age of 88. He had been a leading member of the former Civic Society, the Marlborough Rambling Club of U3A in both Swindon and Kennet and of

CHARITY fundraiser Muriel Harrison of Littlemead, Box, was branch secretary of Cancer Research UK for 27 years. She loved music, especially singing and playing the piano. She and her husband Gordon were both members of the Box Singers. Mrs Harrison

MOTHER-of-six Queenie James, who was proud of her Romany gipsy origins, has died from cancer aged 65. Mrs James lived in Five Stiles Road in Marlborough with her husband Sam and handicapped daughter Karen. Her first love was her family and looking

Bill Harrison, 71, a former caretaker of St Bartholomew's School, Wootton Bassett, has died suddenly in retirement at Ramsgate. He was the youngest of four brothers, of whom only the second, Arthur Harrison of Wootton Bassett, is still alive. Bill

The public enquiry offices at Chippenham and Trowbridge Police Stations will re-open on Monday 28 April. Chief Constable Brian Moore announced in March that analysis of the public's use of the county's enquiry offices had shown that there was a clear

CAMPAIGNERS who won a slice of £7.8 million will see their dreams realised as renovation work starts on a Calne park. Castlefields Canal and River Park Association went head-to-head with a Gloucestershire group on ITV show The People's Millions in November

WILTSHIRE County Council has called public meetings in Urchfont and Upavon to discuss proposals to merge the two village schools. Letters were sent to parents of pupils at the school on Monday. The public meetings are on Monday April 28 at 6pm at Upavon

The Gazette has helped reunite a former Wing Commander and the family of a comrade for the first time in 42 years. Bob Langton, 76, from Devon, wrote in the hope of finding Brian Willoughby, who he knew had lived in the Chippenham area. His plea in

PENSIONER Norman Haines is determined the memory of his wife will live on through a fundraising trust he has established in her name to help sporty youngsters. Mr has raised thousands of pounds since his wife Thelma died aged 74 two years ago. As the

CORSHAM police sergeant Steve McGrath is delighted a mobile CCTV system has been launched in the town. Now both police and council officers will be able to view pictures that will be beamed back to the control room from the camera that can be moved arond

FANTASTIC - that was how Riding for the Disabled instructor Eileen Devenish described the news that her group is getting a grant from the Gazette's parent company. The Gannett Corporation's charitable wing gives out hundreds of thousands of pounds in

BOSSES at the Great Western Ambulance Service have pledged to improve performance in Wiltshire within six months. GWAS face the threat of being replaced by another ambulance provider by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust if it fails to meet national targets

THERE was standing room only as more than 200 people gathered together to mark the first anniversary of the death of Calne cyclist Martin Carr. Mr Carr, 32, of Braemor Road, died last year after having a heart attack while cycling to work in Elm Park

URCHFONT has been shortlisted for a regional award as one of the most climate-friendly communities in the South West. After three years of raising awareness of green issues and organising collections of recyclable waste, the parish council was delighted

TALKS were held yesteday between representatives of Great Western Ambulance Service and Wiltshire Police over renewing the lease on the shared Wiltshire Police helicopter and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The lease is due for renewal on the Explorer helicopter

LEADER of North Wiltshire District Council Dick Tonge was forced to call security when a meeting about gypsy and traveller sites got out of hand last night. The council's executive committee met last night to discuss the controversial issue of providing

CHIPPENHAM town councillors last night discussed plans by Asda to appeal the planning decision that prevents the supermarket giant from opening a store in the town. Some councillors felt that the appeal, which officially begins on May 13, is only going

WORTON mother of three Lisa Jacobs has dedicated herself to raising the profile of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance after it came to her aid when she was butted in the face by a horned sheep. Mrs Jacobs, 41, was bleeding profusely from three separate wounds

MUM Kerry Hughes and her family have been banned from a shop because an assistant put too much credit on her daughter's mobile phone card. Ms Hughes, of West View Crescent, Devizes, was astonished when she got a visit from Maria Johnson, proprietor of

GRIEVING parents Alistair and Caron Edwards are determined the death of their little girl will not be forgotten. They are determined to raise money in memory of two-year-old Bethan who died last month. She died on March 24 after amazing medical staff

"An essential element of successful policing is in identifying the importance of our communities and the people who live within them, listening to them, and putting their views at the heart of our service." These are the words of Julie Clayton, who

CHILDREN got the chance to sample life in the trenches during a special First World War demonstration at Chippenham Museum last Thursday. It was presented by memorabilia expert Steven Williams, from Trowbridge, who presents re-enactments dressed as soldier

FORMER Marlborough Grammar School pupil Neil Jordan is planning a unique journey the length of Britain in memory of his late wife, Linda. Mrs Jordan, who was a teacher at Wootton Rivers village school in the 1970s, lost her battle with cancer in June

ORGANISERS of this year's Crimestoppers event at Bowood believe Aussie actor turned singer Jason Donovan will help draw huge crowds to the event. This year's family fun day on August 31, which is being sponsored by the Gazette, has a host of top stars

SCHOOL CHILDREN and teachers from all over Europe have been visiting St Katharine's School to experience the myth and magic of Savernake Forest. Their visit was organised by St Katharine's, which has been taking part in a European schools project called

NO new building should be allowed on or alongside the possible route of an avenue of stones at Avebury, say some archaeologists. The problem for landowners on the west side of the village is that no-one is sure where the Beckhampton avenue ran. The

PEOPLE will soon be able to see the improvements made to Devizes Opportunity Centre following a £150,000 upgrade. A date for the grand reopening has not been set, but parents of pre-school children with special educational needs have been mightily impressed

RADIO ham Ray Wright has upset his neighbours by having a large tower and aerial in his garden. Mr Wright, of Jackson Close, Devizes, has had radio equipment in his garden for over two years but when planning permission was given he unintentionally gave

THE care of pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School in Great Cheverell is one of the main reasons why Ofsted inspectors judged the school as outstanding. The 132 pupil school received the top rating of outstanding following an inspection on March 27.

Speedway: THE Swindon Robins countered a late Wolverhampton body-blow to take victory on a night of top-notch racing at a rocking Abbey Stadium. Skipper Leigh Adams once again led the way with a paid maximum, his tally of 14+1 points being the 96th

STRIKING Swindon teachers have refused to rule out further industrial action following their one day action yesterday. A coach load of teachers from various schools in the town gave up a day's pay to join other strikers from the south west at a protest

A pregnant woman who robbed a man of his phone after telling him she had been assaulted has walked free from court. Kathleen Shiel asked to borrow her victim's mobile so she could call the police following a late night attack. When he got the phone

A female in her 40's is dead after a motorcycle accident last night, outside Calne at around 8:30 pm. Three family members from Oxfordshire were travelling on motorcycles between Bushton and Hilmarton in the direction of Calne. When they reached Hilmartin