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Wiltshire | Archive | 2006 | August

Stories for 17 August 2006

Announcements

HAINES,Keitha Bethany Mae

HAINES Jason and Emma would like to announce the birth of Keitha Bethany Mae on July 6, 2006. more...

O’BRIEN ~ NOYES, Christina and Darren

Congratulations Christina and Darren O'BRIEN NOYES On the birth of your baby boy, 9 lb, 11 oz, at Swindon. more...

PAPWORTH ~ MITCHELL, Joshua

PAPWORTH MITCHELL Congratulations Sally and Richard on the birth of your son Joshua born at The Great Western Hospital on August 4, 2006. A brother for Chloe. more...

ROSENEGK, James and Sally

are pleased to announce the early arrival of their son Thomas James On July 27, 2006 A little brother forOlivia and Imogen more...

Bradford News

A level success at the double

THERE was a triple twin celebration at St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon this morning with three sets of siblings achieving high grades in their A Levels. more...

Calne News

Stab victim is banned

KNIFE attack victim Anthony Hares has spoken of his disgust after being banned from the annual country music festival where he was stabbed. more...

Stab victim is banned

KNIFE attack victim Anthony Hares has spoken of his disgust after being banned from the annual country music festival where he was stabbed. more...

Thief stole cars from his friends

A teenage thief who stole a sports car belonging to the parents of his former girlfriend has been jailed for a year. more...

Mystery death of worker, 30, in silo

A RESCUE bid ended in tragedy when 30-year-old maintenance contractor Paul Sharp collapsed inside a silo at Southern Valley Feeds in Calne. more...

A noisy rhyme end to the week

TOTS at Calne library enjoyed a day of nursery rhymes and singing at a special Noisy Friday event last week. more...

Three months to rescue violent pub

PUB bosses John Russell and Grant Nicol have been given just three months to turn troubled nightspot The King's Arms around by its owner. more...

Black tie ball in aid of charity

THE mother of 15-year-old cancer sufferer Toby Bodman is set to host her second black tie charity ball in Calne next month. more...

Mystery is cancelled

MURDER Mystery organiser Emily Cowdry says she is disappointed over having to cancel the Calne Players production debut after selling only six tickets. more...

Veterans return to pay tribute to past

YATESBURY veterans returned to the deserted airbase last weekend to relive their service days at an annual reunion. more...

Ironman bid to help youth

CALNE businessman Piers Dibben is cramming in some last minute training ready for the Ironman challenge at Sherbourne Castle in Dorset this Sunday. more...

Farm fined for slurry pollution

A FARMING company has been fined £17,500 after slurry ran into the Willow Brook at Stockley, polluting the water and killing fish. more...

Chapel is open for RNLI bid

THE Lansdowne family chapel at Bowood, only usually used for private events, will be opened for a charity concert on September 9. more...

Chippenham News

Widows in battle for legal costs

Families of RAF personnel killed when a Hercules was brought down by a missile in Iraq last year are battling on for legal representation at the inquest in Wiltshire. more...

Fire vandals close central car park

VANDALS have forced the closure of Chippenham's biggest car park - leaving traders fearing they could be vastly out-of-pocket if it hasn't reopened by the weekend. more...

Bike ride suits you, sir

SIX cycling fanatics from RAF Lyneham rode 440 miles from Great Yarmouth to Land's End for charity wearing full chemical suits. more...

Mums’ majorettes spring into action

BATONS and pompoms at the ready - enterprising mums Fay Pearce and Sarah Couldrake are launching Chippenham's only majorettes club at the end of the month. more...

Community fights crime

PROMINANT businesses in Chippenham will have the chance to be involved in helping to tackle crime as a new police scheme gets underway. more...

Police stop theft of TV

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after three men attempted to walk off with a television from Curry's in Chippenham. more...

Man appears in court over attack

A 52-year-old accused of assaulting a man in Chippenham has appeared before a judge at Swindon crown court. more...

Widow backs car wreck shock tactics

THE widow of drink drive victim Michael Matcham has allowed the wreckage of the car he died in to be put on display as a warning to others. more...

Nursery passes a milestone

CHIPPENHAM'S Redland Nursery is celebrating after transforming the lives of more than 100 children and their parents since it opened two years ago. more...

Rescuers save the cray

CONSERVATIONISTS la-unched a mercy mission to rescue crayfish from deadly American invaders. more...

Rescuers save the cray

CONSERVATIONISTS la-unched a mercy mission to rescue crayfish from deadly American invaders. more...

Rescuers save the cray

CONSER VATIONISTS launched a mercy mission to rescue crayfish from deadly American invaders. more...

Medium to sign books

INTERNATIONALLY famous medium Gordon Smith, seen on the Most Haunted television programme, will be visiting Ottakar's Bookshop in Chippenham on September 4. more...

Face to face with a Viking adventurer

CHILDREN got to grips with the Vikings when Kim Siddorn visited Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre. more...

Clamp-down on motorists

Motorists in Chippenham escaped on-the-spot fines at a police check because there was no space to park their cars. more...

Have a heart to help run shop

CHIPPENHAM'S British Heart Foundation shop has launched a volunteering campaign to find more people to join its team. more...

Widower sets big challenge

WIDOWER Ian Ockwell wants to prove how robust he is - by running a marathon or half marathon every month for the rest of the year. more...

Micro drama group set to grow

Over 40 young people started intensive rehearsals this week for a special youth production of the hit musical Oliver! more...

High fliers still up, up and away

DISAPPOINTED kite enthusiasts had to tone down plans to fly at a special display over the weekend, after strong winds proved too much for some of their elaborate kites to handle. more...

Have-a-go day hooks anglers

BUDDING young angler Selina Henstridge caught a whopping 25 fish on Saturday - despite only taking up the sport a month ago. more...

Competitions

WIN TICKETS TO SEE AFRICAN BIG FIVE

To celebrate the West Midland Safari Park's new 6 Part television series on ITV1 Central (Sunday evenings at 6pm), we have teamed up with the Park to give 5 lucky readers the chance to win a family ticket to see the African Big Five- exclusively in the UK and only at the West Midland Safari Park! more...

Win VIP tickets to Crimestoppers Family Fun Day

Wiltshire Crimestoppers is hosting the 6th Annual Family Fun Day which is taking place at Bowood House and Gardens, near Calne, on Sunday, September 3 from 10am to 6pm. more...

Win VIP tickets to Crimestoppers Family Fun Day

Wiltshire Crimestoppers is hosting the 6th Annual Family Fun Day which is taking place at Bowood House and Gardens, near Calne, on Sunday, September 3 from 10am to 6pm. more...

Corsham News

Hundreds go to fun day

PEOPLE turned up in their hundreds for the Potley and Pockeridge fun day last week. more...

Knife charge goes to trial

Box man Donald Orr has appeared at Swindon Crown Court charged with having a sheath knife in a public place. more...

Village youth club will be place to chill out

PLANS for the new youth club in Box are progressing well said the woman who has managed to get the initiative up and running. more...

Hotel’s new owner starts major facelift

HOTEL boss Malcolm Clowes, who has just bought the Methuen Arms Hotel in Corsham is to spend more than a quarter of a million pounds giving it a major facelift over the next year. more...

Challenge for kidney patient

KIDNEY patient Dick Cooke, from Corsham, flew out to Hungary earlier this week to compete in the European Dialysis and Transplant Games. more...

Sisters drive it

OVER one hundred women from Wiltshire turned out to try their hands behind the wheels of articulated lorries, police cars and even Daleks over the weekend. more...

Devizes News

Private firm to run NHS health centre

A TREATMENT centre for NHS patients is to be built by a private firm on land previously earmarked for a new hospital at Green Lane, Devizes. more...

A starring role

AFTER a slow start to the season, crop circles are once again burgeoning in the fields in the Golden Triangle bounded by Marlborough, Pewsey and Devizes. more...

Gift boosts fountain bid

FORMER Devizes Grammar School pupil Mike Pitcher has made a generous £10,000 donation towards the refurbishment of the fountain in the Market Place. more...

Improved leisure centre applauded

KENNET District Council has been congratulated for not only consulting with residents on its £2.4 million refurbishment of Devizes Leisure Centre but for listening to them. more...

Police warning on OAPs flats

DEVIZES police have urged flat dwellers in the town to take more care with their security after a man posing as a water board official gained entry to an elderly woman's home last week. more...

School builder makes moving gesture

THE human chain which had been organised to physically carry equipment to the new primary school in Rowde has been cancelled after the builders offered to pay for the removals. more...

Strike call by prison officers

PRISON officers at Erlestoke Prison near Devizes have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a national ballot, fuelled by local concern about staff shortage. more...

Terror for football ace

YOUNG footballer Jack Cook, on his way to start a new life at an American university, found himself in the middle of last Thursday's terrorist crisis. more...

Vandals force club to close gates

DEVIZES Town Football Club has decided to lock the gates to its Nursteed Road ground after a spate of vandalism which has cost the club thousands of pounds. more...

Homes agreed on allotments

THE decade long battle against the building of homes on the former Spitalcroft allotment site in Devizes came to an end last Thursday. more...

Food, food glorious food fest

FOOD from all over the world but mainly from Wiltshire will be featured in the week-long Devizes Food and Drink Festival in September. more...

Library gets internet cafe and new books

THE book lovers of Devizes had their first chance to see their new-look town library on Monday after its nine-week £220,000 refit. more...

Dance day away at picnic in park

LIVE music and entertainment for youngsters will feature at Devizes Carnival's Picnic in the Park this Sunday from noon to 4.30pm. more...

Power cuts spark complaints

ELECTRICITY company workers worked through the night last week to solve a problem that had plagued residents in a Devizes street for months. more...

Bumper carnival

SEEND'S big day of the year, the fete and flower show, was a huge success last Saturday and is thought to have raised a record sum of money for local good causes. more...

Entertainments

Plenty of skanking and moshing at biggest-yet Endorse It festival

ON a blustery August weekend at Sixpenny Handley, in Dorset, the fourth Endorse It in Dorset festival took place. more...

Painting by Forest artist chosen for 'mature' exhibition

NEW Forest artist Pete Gilbert is feeling rather chuffed after learning that one of his paintings has been chosen as one of 50 exhibits from more than 1,800 entries in the national 50 over 50 exhibition. more...

Gazette Chippenham Town Fc

Perrin swings his axe

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: DARREN Perrin has released Matt Rawlins and Nick Stanley ahead of the big kick off on Saturday. more...

Teen Wolf wants to prove he is special

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: SEAN Seavill is aiming to become a regular fixture in the Chippenham Town side this season after a starring role over the summer. more...

Newport keeper thanks Bluebirds

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: TONY Pennock, the Newport County goalkeeper who broke his leg in pre-season, sent a heart-warming thank you note to Chippenham Town and the club's fans. more...

New boys mean business

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: STAMFORD say they are back in the Premier Division to make an impression. Promoted last season, Daniels manager Graham Drury issued a statement of intent. more...

Gazette Cricket

Dream come true for Potterne legend Fred

CRICKET: RICHARD Kerley says stepping into the Lashing's dressing room was no different being at Potterne. more...

Gazette Film Reviews

Film review - Harsh Times (15)

THE author of Training Day ventures behind the camera for another gritty tale from the mean streets of Los Angeles. more...

Film review - Akeelah and the Bee (12A)

HEARTWARMING stuff as 12-year-old shy girl Keke Palmer is plucked reluctantly from the wallflower's corner to take centre stage in a natinal spelling bee. more...

Film review - Akeelah and the Bee (12A)

HEART WARMING stuff as 12-year-old shy girl Keke Palmer is plucked reluctantly from the wallflower's corner to take centre stage in a natinal spelling bee. more...

Gazette Football

Goalscorer wanted by Saturday

FOOTBALL: DEVIZES Town manager Paul Thompson has played down the club's lack of goals ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash with Calne. more...

Gazette General Sport

Howell’s next step

GOLF: DAVID Howell is looking to take the next step' and intends to put his poor European form behind him going into the final Major of the season. more...

Gazette Nostalgia

Calling for a crier

IT'S been 29 years since Devizes had its own town crier. Since Sidney Dowse, who served the town so admirably as mayor's officer and town crier, retired in 1977 after some 30 years' service, none of the subsequent mayor's officers has wanted to take on the role of town crier. more...

Gazette Obituaries

OBITUARY: Rene Nicholson

FORMER pub landlady Rene Nicholson who previously ran the Bell Inn at Overton with her late husband Harold has died at the age of 93. more...

OBITUARY: Frederick Fry

BY an amazing coincidence farm engineer Frederick Lofty' Fry whose favourite relaxation was a pint at his local died just four days after publican Rene Nicholson. more...

OBITUARY: Phyllis Cox

BOWLS club stalwart Phyllis Cox has died a year after suffering a major stroke. Mrs Cox, 75, lived at Homefields in Marlborough with her husband Eric. more...

OBITUARY: Anthony Thomas

ANTHONY Thomas, a noted classicist and scholar who lived in Melksham for more than 40 years, has died aged 77 on the Isle of Wight. more...

OBITUARY: Colin Sunderland

COLIN Sunderland, the former Chief Fire Officer of Bermuda, who had lived in Calne for more than ten years, took place at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington on August 11. more...

Gazette Sport Darren Perrin Column

All guns pointing towards Stamford

EVERYTHING starts here. Although we have had a good pre-season we are all now gearing towards Saturday's game with Stamford. more...

Gazette Sue Pycroft Column

Drowning not waving - 17th August 2006

WE resist the temptation of getting a surprise gift for our 17-year-old's birthday and instead ask him what he'd like. more...

Gazette Swindon Town Fc

Onibuje: Give me a chance

SWINDON TOWN: FOLA Onibuje is desperate for a chance to impress during Saturday's trip to Darlington after scoring two for the reserves at Yeovil. more...

Help

A garden idyll

WHEN building is complete on the new extension at Dorothy House's headquarters in Winsley, attention will turn to the extensive grounds behind it. more...

Letters

Dangerous obstacle

BEFORE starting work on Monday August 7 at 7am my husband and I put out as usual our recycling boxes and our garden bin in the same spot that has been our pick up point for the entire 16 years that we have lived at this property. more...

Sweet dreams shattered

OUR house was sleeping soundly in the early hours of August 10 when suddenly helicopters were flying low, circling overhead over our house, Devizes School and the surrounding area. more...

Bollards should not be victim of Sat Nav

I AM incensed by the letter in the Gazette regarding the bollards at the entrance to the Heritage Park Development. more...

Road closure known

The ongoing furore over the inability of an ambulance crew to reach a patient in Drews Park needs to be put into perspective. more...

Removable bollards?

IN reply to the letter of the week by Mr Burn concerning the bollards in Byron Road, Devizes, the planners quite rightly agreed these bollards at the time of the building on the hospital site and should not be interfered with. more...

Extra bin a boon

LAST week you very kindly published my letter mentioning the fact that as a family our wheelie bin is not big enough. more...

Eco friendly pledge

THOSE of us mobilizing against climate change were sad and shocked to learn that Marlborough Town Council has opposed the plan for Cuckoo Pen Cottages, the eco-friendly development on St Martins. more...

Racehorse trainer

BETWEEN 1947 and 1973, George Todd trained racehorses with great success at Manton near Marlborough. more...

Talking newspapers say thankyou

MAY I express a number of very sincere thank yous on behalf of Chippenham Tape Fellowship, which produces local talking newspapers for the blind, visually impaired and housebound in the North Wiltshire area. more...

Loophole in signs

MANY of the road markings in Chippenham are not correct and do not comply with the legal requirements. more...

Welcome wardens

I WAS pleased to see that the new parking attendants will be responsible for the enforcement of on street parking; not before time either. more...

Job with fun rewards

THE hardworking committee behind the annual Calne Festival, which takes place from October 6 to 15 this year, is in desperate need of a minutes secretary. more...

Cancer care kindness

MAY I, through your pages take this opportunity to express my thanks to everyone who sponsored me in my recent fundraising effort for Breast Cancer Care. more...

Poor representatives

WITH reference to your front page article about the plans for Malmesbury Hospital last week, I am confident that many in Malmesbury and the outlying villages do not share Councillor Bowen's view of the present state of affairs. more...

Malmesbury News

Kidney swap man back in the swim

Football boss Andy Wicks has returned to work and is planning to get fit again after a kidney transplant operation in May. more...

Bridge is hit....again

The A429 near Corston was closed for four and a half hours on Tuesday from 7pm when a southbound lorry struck the railway bridge at Kingway. more...

School gets go-ahead for extension

Parents, staff and governors are celebrating the news that Hullavington Primary School will have a £320,000 extension to replace an aged double mobile building. more...

A bird in the hand

Wood carver Ian Chappel delighted visitors to the Abbey House Gardens this weekend with his demonstration of carving birds. more...

Homeowners go to appeal

OWNERS of a cottage have gone to appeal to try and get restrictions on development lifted. more...

Crying out for fame

MALMESBURY has finally found a town crier who likes the limelight. The town council believes it has found the perfect man to fill the vacant town crier's boots. more...

Carnival revue starts fun

MALMESBURY Carnival begins in earnest today, with the Athelstan Players' Carnival Revue launching the festivities. more...

New hall rises from the ashes

MORE than two years since it was destroyed by fire, Hullavington's village hall has opened again after being completely rebuilt. more...

Bid to attract more women engineers

MANUFACTURER Dyson is encouraging young female apprentices to show off their talents through a unique new award. more...

Marlborough News

Firelighters thrown in church

POLICE are investigating reports that tearaway teenagers played catch with lighted firelighters in St Mary's Church, Marlborough on Sunday. more...

Christmas on the way

THERE should be new Christmas lighting in Marlborough this year thanks to a group of volunteers. more...

Stone me, my tickets are missing

ROLLING Stones fan Dave Wheeler is hoping his concert tickets will be delivered in a Jumping Jack Flash after they were sent to Ireland by mistake. more...

Two escape as car turns over on bend

A DRIVER and his male passenger were lucky to escape with minor injuries after their car overturned near Silbury Hill on Sunday. more...

Regulars save favourite pint

REGULARS at The Barleycorn in Collingbourne Kingston can raise a glass of their favourite brew after new owners Brakspear struck a deal to keep a Wadworth beer on tap at the pub. more...

Artist’s hares stars of BBC Springwatch

WILDLIFE artist Joanna May has just had one of the most successful exhibitions of her career so far. more...

An explosion of colour

ONE of the local artists whose work is on show at the Morgan-Boyce Gallery in Marlborough is a former assistant to probably the most controversial modern artist. more...

Pewsey News

Scuffers to scoot miles

Madcap Pewsey Carnival fundraisers, the Scuffers', will be trundling another zany machine on Saturday. more...

Rooftop rescue

JUST hours after having to be stretchered out through a skylight window with back pains Sue Moore was amazed when she was discharged from hospital without seeing a consultant or having an X ray. more...

Horse owners fear slasher may attack

STABLE owners in the Kennet Valley fear their horses could become the victims of sadistic horse slashers. more...

Police probe trust fund cash riddle

POLICE have been asked to investigate Pewsey community fund cash that cannot be accounted for. more...

Youngsters denied free bus to school

A CHILDMINDER fears that the children she cares for will face danger getting to school after they were refused free transport. more...

Youngsters denied free bus to school

A CHILDMINDER fears that the children she cares for will face danger getting to school after they were refused free transport. more...

Salisbury Business News

PIP will lead to increased costs

SMALLER businesses think the changes to the postal system being introduced on Monday will lead to an increase in costs, according to a survey by the Forum of Private Business. more...

Consultancy wins award

ENGINEERING consultancy Halcrow, which has a project office in Amesbury, has won an Institute of Civil Engineers' Sustainability Award 2006. more...

Appointed to the board

AN academic and specialist bookselling chain based in Ringwood, John Smith & Son has appointed Andrew Moore as finance director. more...

Abbey deal leads to firm rebranding

FINANCIAL services giant Abbey is selling its small self-administered scheme and associated consultancy business - currently branded as James Hay Consultancy - to Rowanmoor Pensions. more...

Salisbury City Fc News

Arnie's Truck pull

SALISBURY City's fitness advisor and strength coach Neil Arnold is to take part in a lorry-pull demonstration at the ground prior to the club's match with Sutton United on Saturday, August 26. more...

Holmes on target

MATT Holmes was on target in Salisbury City Reserves' 1-1 draw at Andover last night. more...

Salisbury News

Ruling opens way to 24-hour pub opening

TIME may have been called on Salisbury district council's late-night drinking policy after a potential landmark appeal ruling allowed a pub to open around the clock. more...

County Hall invests £2.5m in school buildings

FOUR south Wiltshire schools are to benefit from thousands of pounds' worth of building work, which will be carried out during the summer holidays. more...

Fundraisers count the cost of licensing mix-up

CHILDREN'S hospice Naomi House lost out when Salisbury district council effectively pulled the plug on a charity performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in the open-air at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club last Sunday. more...

Stfc Headlines

Weighing up!

PAUL Ince was due to meet Dennis Wise today as the Guvnor' finally weighs up whether or not to sign on the dotted line at the County Ground. more...

Duke: ‘Boo me all you like’

BOO me all you like' is David Duke's message to the travelling Town fans as he looks to rev himself up against his former employers. more...

Williams welcomes Town’s new additions

SKIPPER Ady Williams has welcomed two new additions' to the Town squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Darlington but trusts that Messrs Wise and Poyet will have a fight on their hands to feature. more...

‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’

IF you're good enough, you're old enough' is David Lee's message to Town's youngsters as he looks to nurture the next generation of professionals at the County Ground. more...

Fans have caught the travel bug

SATURDAY'S trek to Darlington is one of several long haul away days this season but the Swindon Town Supporters Club say fans have got the travel bug like never before. more...

Swindon And Proud Campaign

We’re too sexy for our town

IT seems it isn't just the heatwave that has caused people across Swindon to get hot under the collar the last few weeks. more...

Swindon Cricket

Last chance to impress

England's in-form squad, which includes Swindon's Jon Lewis, enter their final Test of the summer knowing their prospects of participation in the highly-awaited Ashes series could depend on their performances at the Oval today. more...

Swindon fall to Bennett

YOUTH CRICKET: JAMIE Bennett proved Swindon's nemesis as they were beaten by seven wickets by leaders South Wilts in the Under 15 division of the Wiltshire Youth Cricket League. more...

GWR team reuniting for second time

CRICKET: SWINDON GWR CC will be back playing again this year, albeit for one day only, writes DAVE EATON. more...

Swindon Eating Out

The Bell Inn, Great Cheverell

Visitors to The Bell Inn in Great Cheverell had a surprise recently when they found the star of Channel 4's Location, Location, Location serving behind the bar. more...

Swindon Football

Why Matt hopes to get the blues again

FOOTBALL: With kick-off in the Barclays Premiership just two days away, ANDY CRYER catches up with Swindon-born Manchester City star Matthew Mills. more...

Swindon General Sport

Jamie set for action

BOXING: JAMIE Cox is looking forward to returning to the rigours of the ring next week after a dose of relaxation proved a perfect remedy. more...

Give it a Tri

TRIATHLON: THE SWINDON Tridents' club are offering the chance to experience the sport of triathlon at a summer camp at the end of August. more...

Howell vows to hit top form for Cup clash against States

GOLF: DAVID Howell has revealed his determination to be in top form for his second Ryder Cup appearance next month. more...

Swindon Half Marathon News

Runners race to be part of event

THE organisers of the Swindon Half-Marathon are confident that this year will see even more people pounding the streets than last time around. more...

Why I’m eyeing up a new problem now

LAST week new shoes, this week new eyebrows Nearly a third of the way through my 12-week training schedule and I'm relatively happy with the way it's going. more...

Swindon Letters

You’d think council was colour-blind!

T was reported (SA, August 9) that the Campaign To Protect Rural England says Swindon is among the best and worst councils in England for protecting the countryside. more...

You’d think council was colour-blind!

IT was reported (SA, August 9) that the Campaign To Protect Rural England says Swindon is among the best and worst councils in England for protecting the countryside. more...

Enjoy this art for all

MAY I direct the attention of your readers to an excellent exhibition by Tim Carroll and Laura Copping at the Arts Centre, which has been running from July 11, largely unnoticed, and finishes on August 31. more...

Get it right on patriotism...

IT is so much easier to use playground tactics, calling names, than check or acknowledge facts. more...

Get it right on patriotism...

IT is so much easier to use playground tactics, calling names, than check or acknowledge facts. more...

There’s a need to clarify policy

ROBERT Buckland claims to support the recommendations of the report of the cross-party education select committee on children with special educational needs. more...

Don’t let the Tories take on Mr Whippy

TWO members of David Cameron's front bench, Hugo Swire, Shadow Culture Secretary, and Eric Pickles, Shadow Minister for Local Government, have been seen dispensing free ice cream on Bournemouth beach in a bid to promote the Conservative party. more...

End is nigh, one way or another

TO start this observation it is necessary to make the statement that I have no religion, therefore I think in factual terms without dropping into fantasy. more...

Article puts memories back on centre stage

REGARDING the article about the Arts Centre, pictured above (SA, August 4). more...

No reason to stay away

THE piece on the collapsed Wood Street sewer pipe contained many observations on how Thames Water was dealing with the situation. more...

Swindon News

Baby girl is kidnapped at supermarket

FRANTIC mum Yvonne Murray was reunited with her baby daughter after she was snatched in the middle of a busy Swindon supermarket on Tuesday. more...

Second post mortem fails to solve mystery

THE death of Stephen Smith, whose body was exhumed after fears he may have been poisoned, remains a mystery despite intensive investigations. more...

Man claims attack was self-defence

MICHAEL Squire attacked his neighbour with a piece of wood, fractured his skull and left him in a coma, a jury has been told. more...

Baby heartbreak

NATALIE Henderson and Daniel Styles never got to cuddle their baby daughter, feed her or even hear her cry. more...

£50 fine for soup theft

A HOMELESS diabetic stole a can of soup because he had not eaten for two days, a court heard. Patrick King, 46, took the soup, worth 79 pence, from Tesco in Swindon on July 28. more...

Schoolboy’s vital role in crash probe

SWINDON Town chief executive Mark Devlin and his wife could not be prouder of their son Stan, who is now playing a crucial role in the investigation into the plane crash, which almost claimed the lives of three club officials. more...

Men charged over baseball bat attack

TWO men from Swindon have appeared in court charged with attacking a man using a baseball bat and snooker cue. more...

Road block as car and bus collide

A TOWN centre road was blocked when a bus loaded with passengers collided with a car. more...

Chantel’s memory lives on with pupils

A TOUCHING memorial to eight-year-old Chantel Boland, who died from a brain tumour in April, has been unveiled at her old school. more...

Binman stabbed in leg by syringe in rubbish bag

A dustbin man faces a nightmare three-month wait to see if he has caught a disease after a dirty syringe stabbed him in the leg. more...

Blaze sweeps through stables

FIRE has destroyed stables in Broad Town. more...

Kidnapper is still in custody

THE man who kidnapped a 13-month-old baby from the Ocotal Way Tesco store is being detained at Gablecross Police Station. more...

SHOT as a deserter BUT MY grandad was no coward

At 3.20am on June 9, 1916, Jim Swaine was shot for deserting the Western Front. more...

SHOT as a deserter BUT MY grandad was no coward

At 3.20am on June 9, 1916, Jim Swaine was shot for deserting the Western Front. more...

Wife pays tribute to tragic husband

WIDOW Sophie McGuire has laid a wreath where her husband died at work to mark the first anniversary of his death. more...

Cameras are replacing our traffic officers

WILTSHIRE has almost twice as many police traffic patrol cars as speed cameras. more...

GWH tightens the rules on smoking

PATIENTS hoping to sneak outside for a crafty cigarette break at the Great Western Hospital may be forced to huddle in special smoking shelters in the near future. more...

Unearthly glow of futuristic glass building in frame

IS it a UFO, is it a plane ? more...

Pupils throw themselves into disaster

A GROUP of pupils from Swindon is spending the week as a disaster recovery team. more...

Wife pays tribute to tragic husband

WIDOW Sophie McGuire has laid a wreath where her husband died at work to mark the first anniversary of his death. more...

Wife pays tribute to tragic husband

WIDOW Sophie McGuire has laid a wreath where her husband died at work to mark the first anniversary of his death. more...

New plan to sell alcohol in parks

QUEENS Park and Town Gardens kiosk operator Mark Johnston has applied to sell alcohol. more...

My Attack was in self-defence

A MAN accused of launching the attack which left a father-of-three brain damaged told a jury he hadn't meant to harm him. more...

Martial arts to become marital arts

IT WAS love at first fight for Tae Kwon Do instructor Victoria Orchard and her student Adrian Foote. more...

Martial arts to become marital arts

IT WAS love at first fight for Tae Kwon Do instructor Victoria Orchard and her student Adrian Foote. more...

We’re too sexy for our town

IT seems it isn't just the heatwave that has caused people across Swindon to get hot under the collar the last few weeks. more...

Open for trade (for a while!)

ROADWORKS which have forced the closure of a busy Old Town shopping street to traffic could go on until March next year. more...

Did you witness racist attack by gang?

AN Asian teenager was punched and kicked to the ground by a gang of three white men in a racist attack. more...

Mini village is a model way to support charity

A MODEL village at the bottom of a Gorse Hill garden has been drawing in the crowds. more...

Mini village is a model way to support charity

A MODEL village at the bottom of a Gorse Hill garden has been drawing in the crowds. more...

Making heavy weather of it

SWINDON man Ben Fouracre is currently heaving his way across the Atlantic in a rowing boat. more...

Saddle up for show

EUROPE'S largest equestrian touring theatre show gallops into Swindon today. more...

Pals cheer victim of stab attack

THE father of a Swindon man who was stabbed while celebrating his 21st birthday has praised his son's friends for the support they have shown him. more...

Pals cheer victim of stab attack

THE father of a Swindon man who was stabbed while celebrating his 21st birthday has praised his son's friends for the support they have shown him. more...

Size matters in the great shake-up of post prices

WITH only days to go until the biggest shake- up of the postal service since the introduction of the penny black, people in Swindon are still not exactly sure what it means. more...

Vets vexed by roaming Rex

A VETERINARY practice is calling for the owners of a lost cat to come forward. more...

Vets vexed by roaming Rex

A VETERINARY practice is calling for the owners of a lost cat to come forward. more...

Runners Race to be part of event

THE organisers of the Swindon Half-Marathon are confident that this year will see even more people pounding the streets than last time around. more...

Teen mugged

A TEENAGER had his bike and jewellery stolen in a mugging in Park North. more...

Why I’m eyeing up a new problem now

LAST week new shoes, this week new eyebrows Nearly a third of the way through my 12-week training schedule and I'm relatively happy with the way it's going. more...

Watchdogs keep an eye out for crime

POLICE are hoping that the new Adver-backed Swindon Drugs Hotline will become as successful as Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the town. more...

Watchdogs keep an eye out for crime

POLICE are hoping that the new Adver-backed Swindon Drugs Hotline will become as successful as Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the town. more...

DJ Ian plays fatboy slim

IAN Timms is less than half the man he used to be - and it has probably saved his life. more...

‘Save our memories’

WATCHING her children playing during a trip to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre, Reba Dryden decided to take a photograph to capture the happy memory. more...

Salon thief escapes jail

A HEROIN addict from Park North who stole a cash box from a hairdressers has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence by magistrates. more...

We’re over the moon to get sign back

It's taken 15 months but finally The Moonrakers pub has had its iconic sign restored. more...

Teenager is given a second chance

A TEENAGE motorcyclist who took his father's car keys after being caught carrying a pillion passenger without a helmet has had a driving ban overturned. more...

Housing in Swindon is placed under severe strain

A HOUSING association says Swindon's housing is under severe strain and is set to get worse. more...

It’s a whole world of fun

SWINDON children can travel the world at a retail park's summer school. more...

Swindon Speedway

Rossiter ‘gutted’ after derby defeat

SPEEDWAY: ALUN Rossiter cursed his side's luck as Swindon Robins slipped to a narrow defeat against arch-rivals Oxford Cheetahs. more...

Times Celebrating

BIRTH: Molly Grace Clark

WISHED for child' is the literal translation of the name chosen for their first daughter by Lucy and Neil Clark. more...

MARRIAGE: Nicola Billett & Matthew Barrow

Miss Nicola Jane Billett and Mr Matthew John Barrow were married at Trowbridge Register Office on June 10. more...