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Stories for 21 July 2005
Business News
Drive to cut red tape welcomed
Bob Poole, chairman of the Swindon Federation of small businesses Picture Ref: 76480-34THE Government's pledge to speed up the drive to cut red tape has been welcomed by a group representing hundreds of Swindon businesses. more...
Motorola dials up another phone sales bonanza
MOTOROLA has recorded another sales increase in the last three months. more...
Calne News
Pupils learn safety essentials from experts
Mayor Cathy Bowyer tries out a police motorcycle (16722/9)GAZETTE & HERALD: EMERGENCY services staff have been delivering a safety message to the young people of Calne. more...
Second expansion is likely for car museum
GAZETTE & HERALD: ATWELL Wilson Motor Museum is planning to extend its capacity by an enormous 40 per cent. more...
Horse power takes pride of place
GAZETTE & HERALD: ALL roads led to Calne at the weekend when the town played host not only to a motorcycle meet, but the 18th Great Western Rally for car enthusiasts as well. more...
Volunteers give their all for fête
GAZETTE & HERALD: ST EDMUND'S School capitalised on the summer sun when it threw its annual summer fête earlier this month. more...
Chinese teachers learn from school visit
Dean Tian Feng, left, and Gao Qin (16668/3/AD)GAZETTE & HERALD: TWO teachers from China got their first taste of life outside their home country with a visit to Calne's John Bentley School over the last two weeks. more...
Pupils brush up on fitness
GAZETTE & HERALD: PUPILS at Calne's Priestley School learnt the values of a healthy lifestyle last week when they undertook a week long health and fitness project. more...
Thief KOs victim at home
GAZETTE & HERALD: A ROBBER stole £600 from Deceuninck worker Mike Bennett and left him lying in a pool of blood in his living room after knocking him out with a glass bottle. more...
Chippenham News
Disabled woman in battle for bathroom
GAZETTE & HERALD: WHEELCHAIR-bound Carole Elford has not used her bathroom for three years because it's on the first floor of her housing association home. more...
Video man's helping hand in Olympic bid success
GAZETTE & HERALD: THE Olympics are coming to London and Chippenham's Simon Walker can take part of the credit for the winning bid. more...
RAF hero reunited with man injured in bombing
GAZETTE & HERALD: A WEEK after the bombings in London, RAF Lyneham hero Wing Cdr Craig Staniforth was reunited with the survivor he plucked to safety from a devastated train carriage. more...
Anti social behaviour measures working
GAZETTE & HERALD: Police and residents say a new scheme to reduce anti social behaviour on the Redlands estate is bringing significant rewards. more...
Football frenzy seven-a-side
GAZETTE & HERALD: WANNABE Wayne Rooneys can take part in a football frenzy from Monday to beat the boredom of the summer holidays. more...
Workshops at Abbey
GAZETTE & HERALD: Wartime life, art, drama and creepy crawlies are on the cards in a series of workshops and events for youngsters over the summer holiday at Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum. more...
New council chief chosen
A NEW face will be taking over the helm of North Wiltshire District Council to succeed chief executive Bob Marshall. more...
Fight for council control
A critical and unexpected by- election for a seat on North Wiltshire District Council could mean the end of the Liberal Democrats' ascendancy. more...
Boot-iful bounty
GRANDMUM Linda Heron is organising a fundraising car boot sale in Lea in aid of the Gazette's Springboard Appeal. more...
Shock at discovery of syringes in garage loo
Garage worker Brian Williams with the syringes he found in the garage loo (16737/7/NS)GAZETTE & HERALD: GARAGE worker Brian Williams was horrified to find three syringes hidden in a public toilet at the BP petrol station on Bath Road, Chippenham. more...
Knifepoint robbers strike at luxury hotels
A hotel guest at Lucknam Park Hotel, near Colerne, had a knife held to her throat by an attacker on Thursday morningGAZETTE & HERALD: A 33-YEAR-OLD woman said she is too petrified to open her curtains after she was held at knifepoint in the car park of a top hotel. more...
Towns stop to remember all those who died
GAZETTE & HERALD: AN EERIE silence fell over Chippenham at noon on Thursday as people came together to remember those who died in the London bombings a week before. more...
Our little miracle child fights back against odds
Teigan Higgs plays in the garden (16778/1/AD)GAZETTE & HERALD: PLUCKY tot Teigan Higgs has defied the odds and is full of beans just three months after open-heart surgery that saved her life. more...
Little fighter beats odds to prove doctors wrong
Lauren Booth is looking forward to starting school (16745/2)GAZETTE & HERALD: JUST like any other parents, Paul and Lisa-Jayne Booth will be waving their angelic daughter Lauren off to her first day at school with tears in their eyes and lumps in their throats. more...
Musical pupils fill bank with notes
Children from Ivy Lane School singing in the lobby of Lloyds TSB bank 16678/2GAZETTE & HERALD: CUSTOMERS of Chippenham's Lloyds TSB had a musical treat on Friday when pupils from Ivy Lane School performed songs at the bank. more...
Young bookworms go potty for latest Harry
Nine year old fans of the latest Harry Potter book, from left, Jonathan, Chris and Lucy (16775/2)GAZETTE & HERALD: IN the dark hours of Saturday morning, spellbound Harry Potter fans were polishing off the latest instalment of the series only hours after its release. more...
Pupils deal with emergencies
Susan Hutton and Allison Grant discuss smoking with pupils from Monkton Park School, Chippenham (16664/1)GAZETTE & HERALD: MANY of life's most important lessons are learned outside the classroom, as ten and 11-year-olds from schools all over Wiltshire found out when they took part in a Junior Good Citizen Day. more...
Store staff face job uncertainty
GAZETTE & HERALD: STAFF at Littlewoods in Chippenham face an uncertain future following the sale of all the Littlewoods stores to Associated British Foods, owners of the Primark fashion stores. more...
Councillor's building plans
GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM businesswoman and town councillor Sandie Webb is planning to build three detached houses in her garden in Hardenhuish Lane. more...
Corsham News
Staff are held at gunpoint in raid
Police investigators at Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham after an armed robbery on TuesdayGAZETTE & HERALD: AUCTIONEER Nick Houlgate has praised his receptionist and salesroom manager for their calmness after they were confronted by two gun wielding raiders on Tuesday morning. more...
Rock star chills out at hotel
GAZETTE & HERALD: OASIS guitarist Noel Gallagher has been taking time off from his world tour to relax in the sumptuous Wiltshire surroundings of Luckham Park Hotel at Colerne. more...
Knifepoint robbers strike at luxury hotels
A hotel guest at Lucknam Park Hotel, near Colerne, had a knife held to her throat by an attacker on Thursday morningGAZETTE & HERALD: A 33-YEAR-OLD woman said she is too petrified to open her curtains after she was held at knifepoint in the car park of a top hotel. more...
Colourful annual memorial to village artist
GAZETTE & HERALD: ARTISTS at Colerne primary picked up their paintbrushes to compete for an annual art award last week. more...
Cyber couple marry
Julie Charlesworth arrives at church with her father 16756/02GAZETTE & HERALD: CHATROOM couple Julie Charlesworth and Paul Bryan tied the knot on Saturday four years after meeting on the Internet. more...
Councillors voice fears of crisis in health care
GAZETTE & HERALD: WITH 1,000 new houses under construction and a shortage of services such as doctors and dentists, Corsham councillors fear the worst for the state of the town's health care. more...
Children star in space drama
GAZETTE & HERALD: ST Bartholomew's Church drama group will perform its play, The Invasion From Planet Zorgon, tomorrow. more...
Widow's thanks for messagesof support
GAZETTE & HERALD: WIDOWED mother-of-three Maggie Matcham would like to say thank you for all the support she has received since her husband Michael was killed in a car crash two weeks ago. more...
Pupils urged to make music
GAZETTE & HERALD: PUPILS from Corsham primary schools have been urged to keep making a racket and not abandon their musical instruments. more...
Devizes News
OAP in cell over PC assault claim
PC Adam HallPENSIONER Gwen Townsend, 80, ended up in a police cell after she went to complain about the noise coming from a community event near her home. more...
Baby ban on Gazette
Sally Matthews, Samantha Braby and partner Darren O'Shea, Victoria Walker and Glenn Davies are full of praise for Devizes Maternity Unit (16797/3)THE Gazette was banned from taking pictures of four new babies at Devizes Maternity Unit by health bosses. more...
Developer bans white van man from estate
Ron Moore, left, Steve Watson and Justin Romans, who are banned from parking their work vans by their homes because of a clause in the developer's lease (16782/2)RESIDENTS of some new Devizes housing estates have been banned from parking commercial vehicles, caravans and boat trailers outside their homes. more...
Judges look beyond the blooming baskets
Mayor Peter Evans with Britain in Bloom judges Robert Standen and Barrie Dickinson 16696/3BRITAIN in Bloom judges have been in Devizes inspecting different areas of the town. more...
Family irate after sex attacker avoids jail
THE family of a 17-year-old Devizes girl who was sexually assaulted say they are disgusted her attacker has received a suspended prison sentence. more...
Royalists once again rule on the hill
A soldier goes in for the `kill' as the re-enactment of the Civil War Battle of Roundway Down hots up (16757/1)CANNONS and muskets were fired and cavalry soldiers charged on a hilltop overlooking Devizes as the story of one of the bloodiest battles of the English Civil War was told. more...
Skeletons found in village garden
One of the skeletons, above and left, Shaun Gibbs cleans some bones(16781/2)SKELETONS up to 1,000 years old have been unearthed by archaeologists in Potterne. One skeleton found intact is of a baby, thought to have been stillborn, which was possibly born up to eight weeks early. more...
Teens pay price for fall in adult disco appeal
YOUNG teens in Devizes have been left with nowhere to go on a Friday night following the closure of discos at the Corn Exchange. more...
Car park thief steals man's treasured wedding photos
CLEANER Keith Genever was upset when a thief snatched away precious memories of his stepson's wedding. more...
Teenagers win battle of bands
TEENAGE band Personality Cult triumphed in a competition despite the evening being disrupted by an alleged knife attack. more...
Bureaucracy leads WI to axe famed breakfasts
A ROARING trade in providing breakfasts for tourists has been closed down by a mixture of bureaucracy and furry rodents. more...
Data protection scam letters
DESPITE action by the Office of Fair Trading and the Information Commissioner's Office, traders in Devizes are still receiving letters from crooks warning of severe penalties under the Data Protection Act. more...
Wood's helpers thanked
THE hard work of the environmental volunteers of Devizes was marked on Sunday by a successful woodland fair to mark the 15th anniversary of Drews Pond Wood. more...
All bets off as bookie pulls out of new store
BOOKMAKER William Hill has dropped its plan to open a betting office in The Brittox. more...
Others need your crutches
WHEN Jenny-Anne Dexter fell down the stairs and hurt her foot she asked Devizes Hospital if she could borrow some crutches to help her get around. more...
Museum is top for treasures
EXHIBITS at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes are among the top ten in the country according to a Channel Five programme due to be screened next week. more...
We'll carry on fight to restore foxhunting
THE new joint master of the Royal Artillery Hunt, Brian Toogood, has said he will use all legal and political means to restore traditional foxhunting to England. more...
Hillworth Park homes plan is put on hold
DEVIZES Town Council will decide whether to sell off a small area of land at Hillworth Park for housing after carrying out a review of the park. more...
Chairman will still play a role
ROSIE Berry, who has stood down as chairman of governors at Rowdeford School, near Devizes, has pledged that she will continue as an active governor at the school for children with special educational needs. more...
School trip off after bombings
PRESSURE from parents led to Southbroom Junior School cancelling a trip to London. more...
Bike path plan `is dangerous'
DEVIZES Town Council is objecting to plans by Wiltshire County Council to create a cycle way on the footpath in Northgate Street. more...
Healthy eaters close tuck shop
THE tuck shop at All Cannings Primary School, near Devizes, is to close after children decided to plump for the healthier option and bite into a juicy piece of fruit rather than sticky cake during their break. more...
Bed linen was never like this
A COMPANY that manufactures exotic bed linen has moved to Devizes. Between The Sheets was founded more than 12 years ago by Jane Allen who saw that conventional suppliers of bed linen were unaware of the popularity of more unusual tactile fabrics. more...
Councillors will not bow to pressure on planning
THE great majority of Kennet councillors maintain their right to turn down planning applications against their officers' recommendations despite the risk of an expensive appeal process. more...
Cyclist raises cash for group
THERE was a big surprise in store for members of the Kennet Gateway Club when cyclist Andy Vidler dropped in to present cash he had raised on a 1,000 mile bike ride. more...
Deadline looms for new club and pub licences
FEWER than half the pubs and clubs in Kennet and North Wiltshire that should have registered under new licensing laws have so far bothered. more...
Breakthrough in crime fight
Wiltshire Police is the first in the world to use a ground-breaking new system called MIDAS which allows the force's video technicians to connect to any CCTV system and find images for processing at a later stage. more...
Sailing into victory
EMOTIONS ran high on Saturday when Wiltshire sailors were re-united with their loved ones in Portsmouth at the end of the Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race more...
Steam loco puffs its way throughthe county
ONE of the great names of Britain's railway heritage, the Duke of Gloucester, steamed through Wiltshire yesterday. more...
Tributes flow in for giant of politics
ONE of Wiltshire's most eminent residents, former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, 89, died peacefully at his Salisbury home on Sunday night. more...
Bail bandits find their time is fast running out
CATCH THE BAIL BANDITS: WILTSHIRE police have expressed their gratitude to the response from the public after the Gazette published pictures of nine bail bandits who failed to turn up to court. more...
Recycling rates rise as the habit catches on
Green minded householders have helped Wiltshire clock up its highest recycling figures. more...
Devizes,Calne,Marlborough,Highworth,Chippenham,Corsham,Malmesbury,Wootton Bassett News
Buildings need sorting out
There are a growing number of retail buildings where the lack of maintenance is really letting the town down. As a starting point it's time that the owners did something about the following: more...
Support for carers available
Born and bred in Swindon, now living on the outskirts of Wootton Bassett, which as a child I called Wooden Basket, I am currently a carer. more...
Hands off open space
Congratulations to Corsham for getting its recreation ground back from the proposed building of houses and a car park. more...
Meaningful events
The president, chairman, general committee and all members of the Devizes Branch of The Royal British Legion wish to convey their most sincere thanks and appreciation for all the advice and assistance we were given, both with the planning for, and execution of the events held over the week of the VE/VJ Day celebrations and Sunday parade and service. more...
No police presence
Once again a member of my family has fallen victim to the mindless criminals that inhabit our area. more...
Many are excluded
I hope it did not confuse too many of your readers last week in my letter due to an error. The point to be made is that Kennet's approach to daytime meetings excludes many would-be councillors and the public from attending. more...
Purse finds its owner
We are all to quick to complain so I will now say a quick, great big thank you to Wendy Beaver and her staff at the library in Devizes. more...
Town is blooming
I would like to say thank you to the Devizes Town Council Parks Department for the most gorgeous floral displays around the town. more...
Search on for carers
Every year over two million people become carers. Many are highly skilled workers who find themselves having to juggle work with unpaid caring responsibilities. Often they have to give up work the person they care for has to come first. more...
Great performance
I have just returned home from a performance of Grease at Lavington School that I can only describe as wonderful. The entire evening was a thoroughly enjoyable one with a fabulously talented cast ranging from the young (Year Seven) to the not quite so young and I am sure that we will go on to see many of this cast again in the near future. more...
Stay evokes memory
I am staying with my daughter Janet and her husband Peter in Bromham, and as I look out from their garden I can see the outline of Roundway Hill. It was on this day, July 14, 1939, that I first saw Roundway and Devizes. more...
Enjoy great legacy
I wonder if many readers have read of the lovely new Steinway grand piano which now sits on the Pump Room stage at the Pump Room in Bath? more...
Cash for centre
I wish to thank Liz Holland, Couns Dave and Ellie Bland for manning the stall on behalf of the drop in centre at the Country and Western show. more...
Question the people
I feel that J.T. Biggins, (letters, July 14) missed the point, for making a bit on the side. Why not sell ice-creams and cold drinks to those drivers waiting in the long queues, in Curzon Street/Wood Street, Calne, and why not get the highway planners asking people outside Carten Stores and T.K.Tackle, to ask what they think about a pedestrian crossing? more...
All smoked out
On one of the hottest days of the year so far, I should be sitting in my garden sipping a glass of chilled wine and enjoying the evening sunshine. more...
On the bikers' map
What a great time was had by all at the Calne motorcycle meet. The sheer number of bikers who turned up was unbelievable, very impressive. There were a variety of bikes from vintage to brand new, bizarre and some beautiful arty jobs. What characters there were too. As last year, the music was good. more...
Health News
X-ray unit ruled out of new hospital
Health bosses have officially ruled out X-ray services at Malmesbury's new health facility much to the disgust of townspeople. more...
Hospital shuts as deadly bug found
PATIENTS moved into the new £10 million Savernake Hospital last week had to be shipped out again four days later after a killer bug was found in the water system. more...
Baby ban on Gazette
Sally Matthews, Samantha Braby and partner Darren O'Shea, Victoria Walker and Glenn Davies are full of praise for Devizes Maternity Unit (16797/3)THE Gazette was banned from taking pictures of four new babies at Devizes Maternity Unit by health bosses. more...
Malmesbury News
Uncle's £40,000 target for charity
Annie Higgs, Sharon Hamilton, Teigan and uncle James Higgs (16758/1)Caring uncle James Higgs has set himself a target of £40,000 to raise for sick children after losing his nephew to meningitis and watching his niece fight severe illnesses. more...
Town hall rescue for the price of can of Diet Coke
Mayor Jacky Martin with a can of Coke (16776/2/NS)COUNTY councillor John Thomson gave away cans of Diet Coke at a public meeting to demonstrate how little people would each have to contribute to save the town hall. more...
French relish sweet taste of victory
16753/1FORMER Malmesbury wine importer Roger Norton, who has 11 times captained a team to victory at Sherston Boules day, had to settle for second place on Saturday as a French team grabbed the title. more...
X-ray unit ruled out of new hospital
Health bosses have officially ruled out X-ray services at Malmesbury's new health facility much to the disgust of townspeople. more...
Freemen give boost
John Poole, centre, presenting the cheque for £400 to teachers and staff of Malmesbury Primary School (16785/1/NS)A DONATION of £400 has been given to theft-hit Malmesbury Primary School by the Warden and Freemen of Malmesbury, who were shocked by the burglary. more...
Bike ride ends in disaster
A 75-year-old woman who was being taken on a motorbike ride for a birthday treat is in intensive care with a broken neck after it crashed. more...
Old church in the spotlight
Townspeople will soon become accustomed to seeing a film crew around the town's Methodist church over the coming months, as the production team plans to return 12 to 14 times. more...
Get involved in huge carnival
MALMESBURY carnival secretary John Lawton has called on more businesses and pubs to enter floats in this year's carnival procession. more...
Tourists' frustration at slow computer link-up
COMPUTER difficulties at The Tourist Information Centre are hampering visitors who need to know more about Malmesbury's attractions, a councillor has claimed. more...
Youth club and skate park plan a step nearer
A COMBINED new youth club and skatepark for Malmesbury has moved a step closer after county councillors backed the idea in principle. more...
Marlborough News
Hospital shuts as deadly bug found
PATIENTS moved into the new £10 million Savernake Hospital last week had to be shipped out again four days later after a killer bug was found in the water system. more...
Big losers are winners
Jackie Kearley and Vanda Rowe have lost between them the weight of Alan Brown. (16790/5)TWO mums, the Rev Vanda Rowe and Jackie Kearley, have both been doing a disappearing act. more...
Friends share honours
Abby Cheney, front, and her pal Martha Ross (16739/1)SCHOOL chums Abby Cheney and Martha Ross are the new carnival queen and attendant at Aldbourne. more...
Car driver is in bus collision
Firefighters cutting the woman from her car following the collision with a bus on Friday afternoon (16751/1)A WOMAN driver was airlifted to the Great Western Hospital on Friday after her Mercedes and a Wilts and Dorset bus collided at Oare. more...
No sea, no sand but the teens stage beach party
16724/3TEENAGERS in Marlborough are being invited to a beach party but they won't have to travel to the seaside. more...
Police warn teenagers of crackdown on litter
POLICE are warning young people who get into the Priory Gardens in Marlborough after they are closed that they can be given fixed penalty tickets for leaving rubbish. more...
Theatre plan wins support
TOWN councillors in Marlborough have given their unequivocal backing to revised plans for the Riverbank theatre/cinema. more...
Complaint lodged over councillor's actions
A SECOND Marlborough councillor is under investigation by the local councils' watchdog. more...
Row as the TIC goes on the move yet again
THE tourist information centre in Marlborough is at the centre of a new row because it's on the move again. more...
Blimey, old Rileys roll in
SCORES of old Riley cars will be converging on Marlborough on Saturday for the first of what is hoped will be a series of classic car rallies. more...
Carnival plans family weekend
THERE will still be some carnival activities in Marlborough this year although the annual procession has been dropped, said acting chairman Steve Pascall. more...
Flak flies over cowshed work
CONVERSION of an old cowshed in Axford to extend a house is being opposed. more...
Colleagues are gagging me, claims councillor
Marlborough town councillor Richard Allen claims he is being gagged by some of his colleagues. more...
Pulling towards a sport revival
BUILDER Les Hall is hoping that a reunion of the former tug-of-war teams that used to compete in Marlborough might lead to a revival of the sport. more...
Pewsey News
Summertime revels pack in fun
Rebecca Uttley and Daisy enjoy the fun 16765/6MORE than 2,000 people took advantage of a glorious summer afternoon to visit and enjoy the Pewsey Summer Fair organised by Marlborough and District Rotary Club. more...
Parishioners are told to go forth and multiply
VILLAGERS in North Newnton face the prospect of months of fundraising to pay for £30,000 repairs to a crumbling wall at St James Church. more...
Parents face huge bill for tiny Phebe's helmet
Sam La Touche and Jason Hampshire with Phebe 16743/1PARENTS Jason Hampshire and Sam La Touche face a massive bill from a private consultant for a treatment for baby daughter Phebe that is available on the NHS. more...
Protesters force rethink
PRESSURE from electors has forced members of Pewsey Parish Council to reconsider its position over plans for a mobile phone mast on the village soccer field. more...
Chef banned for drink driving
CHEF Nicholas Rhodes has been banned from driving after he was caught driving while over the limit. more...
Stalwart leaves council
LONG serving parish councillor Colin Lampard has resigned to concentrate on heading the Pewsey Area Community Trust. more...
Sport Cricket
Wiltshire one step away from Lord's
Wiltshire's cricketers face their biggest game for more than a decade on Sunday just one step away from a final at the home of cricket. more...
Career best for Ashford-Brown
FORMER Devizes bowler James Ashford-Brown took a career best seven wickets in Corsham's one-day game against Keynsham on Saturday. more...
Aubrey and Beckett smash club record
CRUSADER WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: BLUNSDON openers Kevin Aubrey and Jules Beckett set a club record partnership of 306 in their Wiltshire League Division Two victory at Buscot Park. more...
Corsham 92-1, Keynsham 90
JAMES Ashford-Brown single-handedly won Corsham's Premier One clash with Keynsham on Saturday after receiving career best figures. more...
Chippenham 191-8, Downend 192-7
CHIPPENHAM captain Trevor Lloyd admits his team's Premier Two future hangs in the balance while his team fails to pick up wins. more...
Biddestone 190-9, Malmesbury 189-9
MALMESBURY captain Ed Shellard claimed his team is not a rock-bottom outfit after losing to second-placed Biddestone by just one run on Saturday. more...
Redmarley 167, Goatacre 168-7
ALL-ROUNDER Jif Wilkins says his Goatacre side can win the league after a three-wicket victory moved them within four points of Swindon at the top of the table. more...
Hatherley and Reddings 145-5, Swindon 142
THE promotion race was blown wide open on Saturday when leaders Swindon lost by five wickets to Cheltenham-based Hatherly and Reddings. more...
Warminster 167-1, Devizes 163
CAPTAIN Andy Hodder feels his Devizes side need to have a bout of amnesia and forget about their nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of an imperious Warminster on Saturday to push up the league. more...
Woodmancote 78-0, Marlborough 74
MARLBOROUGH crashed to a ten-wicket defeat at Woodmancote on Saturday to leave them well off the pace for promotion. more...
Sport Football
Forest Green keeper Windle will be the new Devizes number one
FORMER Forest Green Rovers goalkeeper Scott Windle is having trials at Devizes Town. more...
Electric atmosphere for Castle Combe tournament
SIX- A -SIDE: CASTLE Combe Colts cheered on three finalists at their second annual six-a-side tournament on the weekend. more...
Home advantage
MALMESBURY Youth U10s became the first home team to win at their own annual six-a-side tournament last weekend. more...
Where there's a Will there's a way as Tearle is honoured
THE remarkable achievements of Wootton Bassett teenager Will Tearle were recognised by the Wiltshire FA at their AGM last month. more...
Sport Rugby
Schoolboys set for All Blacks
DAUNTSEY'S School set off on an ambitious three-week rugby tour of Hong Kong and New Zealand on Tuesday, looking to bring back some British pride. more...
Swindon News
Vote on Coate must be free
I READ Ben Payne's report on the Cabinet's Coate decision with disbelief at the reasons stated. more...
MPs should defend rights
I WAS not too surprised to read that the council is set to accept a Government recommendation that 1,800 homes should be built on Coate fields. more...
Thank you for all your help
I WOULD be grateful if you would print in your letters page a very big thank you to the people who stopped to help me on Saturday morning after I had been knocked off my moped at the junction of Beatrice Street/Whitehouse Road bridges. more...
Ripped off by one shopper
IT is not just the young who rip us off. Last week I went to the Iceland store in Swindon to do our shopping were I found, like many other shoppers, there was no shopping trolley available. more...
Medals are demeaned by royals
I MUST take issue with the views of Michael Bray (letters July 14). more...
We should fight and be proud
I was shocked by the plan to use Coate for house building, whether or not there is a university. more...
Chuffed with our new `twin'
Poet Tony Hillier Picture Ref: 22604-28TWO railway towns thousands of miles apart could be on track for a trans-Atlantic friendship. more...
Twice as many taxis next year
Taxis at the station in Swindon Picture Ref: 77493-01TAXI drivers say their livelihoods will be destroyed after Swindon council voted to allow hundreds more cabs onto the streets. more...
Advanced motorists group 50
TWO representatives of the Swindon-based North Wilts Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Advanced Drivers group have visited the House of Lords to celebrate the organisation's 50th anniversary. more...
Store's tribute to Star Trek Scotty
STAFF at the Infinitely Better store in Swindon have paid tribute to James Doohan Scotty in the original Star Trek who died at the age of 85. more...
Policeman keeps the peace in Iraq
JULY 21, 2005: WHEN PC Dean Hoskins is not fighting crime in Swindon he is on peacekeeping duties in Iraq. more...
Wear band with pride
Proud of her town Reeva Kumar, ten, shows off the wristbands Picture Ref: 78325-60JULY 21, 2005: SWINDON and Proud of It wristbands are flying off the shelves and on to the arms of those who care about their town. more...
Fond farewell to special teachers
Teachers Ruth Scholes and Anita Cole at their retirement party Picture Ref: 78507-16TWO teachers who worked in special needs have taken retirement after years of nurturing children at Penhill Primary School. more...
Beautiful babes in the limelight
BCR Photographer Kerry Coeshaw takes a picture of Lucy Wood while her mum Karen looks on Picture Ref: 785051-57BABIES have been queuing up to stake their claim to be the Advertiser's Baby Of The Year. more...
Goodbye playgroup, hello school
Youngsters bid fond farewell to their pre-school PictureRef: 78517-06A GRADUATION ceremony with a difference took place at a Swindon pre-school. more...
Cuts to college classes
Picture Ref: 24698-100SWINDON'S education boss has hit out at a switch in funding from adult learning to teenagers. more...
Concern over new rules on unruly pupils
A TEACHING union leader has warned of tensions in the home if parents are forced to stay off work with unruly children. more...
Mechanics in the spotlight
PLANS to develop the Mechanics Institute into a hotel, homes and a health club are back on the agenda. more...
Stonehenge road tunnel is `unlikely'
plans to build a road tunnel under Stonehenge are in tatters, a government minister has admitted. more...
`This driver should be hung, drawn and quartered'
Picture Ref: 78541-21A WOOTTON Bassett woman hopes CCTV pictures released by police will help catch the hit and run driver who knocked down her husband. more...
Winning a war
Crime has dropped in Wiltshire but this will not deter police from taking on drug dealers and other criminals and getting the figures lower Picture Ref: 25194-23CRIME in Swindon dropped by 6.4 per cent in the last year up to March compared with the year before. more...
I loved her I didn't kill her
THE man accused of murdering Swindon woman Lisa Flanagan in Carlisle told a court that she was the only person he had ever loved. more...
Woman, 75, injured coming off Honda 1100
A WOMAN is in hospital with head injuries and a fractured spine and neck after crashing while riding pillion on a family friend's motorbike for her 75th birthday treat. more...
Police told they have wrong man
Mick Love Picture Ref: 72451-35POLICE have accused the wrong man of killing postal worker Mick Love, according to the prime suspect's defence team. more...
There's somefin fishy at the cop shop...
The giant goldfish enjoys a leisurely swim in the police pond before he is moved to a new home Picture Ref: 78543-35THESE aren't just goldfish they're copper-fish! more...
Jacquie's laid to rest
Floral tributes at the funeral at Kingsdown Crematorium Picture Ref: 78535-26JACQUIE Kent's son declared his love for his mum at her funeral and vowed to make her proud of him. more...
Medical chiefs set to educate
SWINDON medical chiefs have pledged to tackle alcohol abuse, smoking, unplanned teenage pregnancy and obesity in a bid to improve the town's health. more...
Wiltshire News
BREAKING NEWS: Passengers flee in new Tube alert
Terrified Tube passengers were evacuated from trains as police dealt with "incidents" at three different London Underground stations this afternoon. more...
`This driver should be hung, drawn and quartered'
This is the moment when pensioner Geoff Fisher, was hit by a car whose driver fled the scene without stopping.A WOOTTON Bassett woman hopes CCTV pictures released by police will help catch the hit and run driver who knocked down her husband. more...
Wiltshire Sport
Heat is on!
GARETH Whalley is back in contention for a starting slot at Taunton Town tonight but acknowledges he may have a battle on to dislodge Ben Wells. more...
Wootton Bassett News
Town to consider legal action on parking fees
Wootton Bassett Town Council is investigating the possibility of taking legal action against North Wiltshire District Council following its controversial decision to impose charges at the Boroughfields car park. more...
CCTV needs more volunteers
Wootton Bassett CCTV control room supervisor Mike Tupman is dreaming of a new camera, more revenue and more volunteers. more...
Airbase and community rekindle old friendship
Talks are under way for renewing a 12-year-old link between Wootton Bassett and neighbouring Lyneham. more...
Cycle track may link two towns
Commuters from Wootton Bassett to Swindon could soon be swapping their cars for bicycles as councillors are considering setting aside £17,000 to develop pedestrian and cycle tracks. more...
Atacker drags woman from her car in layby
POLICE launched a manhunt in Wootton Bassett on Friday when a thug dragged a woman from her car. The woman eating a sandwich in a lay-by at the time of the attack. more...
Safety concern as lake's lifebelts are stolen again
COUNCILLOR Bill Roberts has spoken of his disgust after thieves have once again stolen the lifebelts around the Jubilee Lake in Wootton Bassett. more...
I can't believe the driver didn't stop
Geoff Fisher in his hospital bed yesterday. He has been campaiging for speed restrictions on the road where he was knocked down (16810-2)FORMER wartime submariner Geoff Fisher will today return home a week after being left for dead following a hit-and-run accident in Wootton Bassett. more...
`This driver should be hung, drawn and quartered'
This is the moment when pensioner Geoff Fisher, was hit by a car whose driver fled the scene without stopping.A WOOTTON Bassett woman hopes CCTV pictures released by police will help catch the hit and run driver who knocked down her husband. more...
Festival offers chance for budding pop stars
Brian Taylor and Philip Flowerdew preparing for the return of the Wootton Bassett Music and Arts Festival 16787/03The finest crooners in town will be hollering their way to stardom this weekend with the return of the Wootton Bassett Music and Arts Festival after 22-years. more...
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