Stories for 10 November 2005

Football

Corsham Town 3, Bristol Manor Farm 0

CORSHAM Town manager Colin Bush said his side wiped away his pain from their FA Vase defeat with two strong performances in the last week.   more...

Devizes Town 0, Brislington 2

DEVIZES Town manager Nathan Sheridan said signing a natural goalscorer in the next two weeks is vital to his side's hopes of climbing the table and going on an FA Vase run.   more...

Melksham Town 1, Barnsstaple Town 0

MELKSHAM Town kept their first clean sheet in seven games as they beat Barnstaple Town at The Conigre on Saturday.   more...

Corcoran back on fire as Highworth turn corner

NORMAL service has resumed at Highworth. The struggling Hellenic League champions looked more like the side that lifted the title in May as they crushed Shortwood 7-0.   more...

Flood gates are blown wide open

MALMESBURY Victoria managed to hold table-topping Winterbourne United for an hour before shipping in four goals as they succumbed to a third straight league defeat.   more...

Exmouth Town 1, Calne Town 5

PLAYER-MANAGER Robbie Lardner praised the character of his Calne side after they bounced back from their 5-0 hiding the previous week with a 5-1 away win at Exmouth Town on Saturday.   more...

Saltash United 2, Biddestone 2

BIDDESTONE returned from their 300-mile round trip to Saltash United with a point, although disappointed not to get all three.   more...

News

£228,000 to relieve town car park headache

GAZETTE & HERALD: STRESSFUL traffic jams spilling from Chippenham's Borough Parade car park could become a thing of the past with a £228,000 plan.   more...

A dead loss for all concerned

November 11 follows hard on the heels of November 5 and, if the area in which I live is anything to go by, it'll be an awfully long time before the kids tire of letting off fireworks.   more...

Consider wider concept on town redevelopment

The new millennium does not seem to have added any sparkle to Devizes Town planners. We are yet again given the same old ideas on filling in open spaces with more housing and building more shops that have no requirement in Devizes without a much more radical rethink.   more...

Tower rescue for sick bellringer

GAZETTE & HERALD: THE rope rescue team from Chippenham Fire Station was called to help an elderly man who collapsed in a bell tower at Westbury Church on Tuesday night.   more...

Why ask strangers?

My wife and I have lived in Bromham for the last 25 years and we have read with interest that the local authority has once again engaged consultants to determine the way ahead for the rejuvenation of Devizes town centre.   more...

Parking in jeopardy

I have just read both Nigel Carter's letter and Jill Crooks' article (November 3) concerning Gillespies' proposals for the so-called revitalisation in Devizes.   more...

Poets and angels new arrivals for festival

GAZETTE & HERALD: Chippenham Arts Festival 2005 kicks off on Saturday, bringing two colourful weeks of art, drama and music for all the family.   more...

Searching for photos

I, like thousands of other children, was an evacuee during the Second World War. I lived in Stitchings Lane, Hilcott, for six years with two caring and lovely people.   more...

Date correction

I agree with everything said by Gil Brookes (Gazette & Herald, November 3). Could I, though, correct one important point?   more...

Sing a song of friendship

GAZETTE & HERALD: A Christmas Carol Concert raising money to promote friendship between young people in Chippenham, France and Germany will take place at the Cause Music and Arts Centre on Thursday December 9.   more...

Thanks for support

The Devizes branch of the British Heart Foundation would like to thank all who attended our recent quiz night at the Bell on the Green where we raised just under £200. We hope to see you all at our next event.   more...

Enjoyable display

May we thank the Scout Association members of George Lane, Marlborough, for their excellent and safe firework display on Saturday evening.   more...

Excellent attention

Having recently been a patient in the Brunel Treatment Centre at the Great Western Hospital (Aldbourne Ward), I would like to thank the surgeon, doctors and nurses and the rest of the staff for the excellent attention which I received after a knee operation. I could not have received any better attention and kindness.   more...

Cash boost for bus services

GAZETTE & HERALD: A CASH boost, totalling over £1.8 million, will be injected into a bus service in Chippenham next year.   more...

Ideal home for the 21st century

GAZETTE & HERALD: Widower Jack Konynenberg is working on a grand design for a ground-breaking 21st century town centre home in a bid to create a new life for himself after the tragic death of his wife Vicki in February this year.   more...

Swindon Town plea

I am currently in the process of completing a book regarding Swindon Town Football Club and am especially keen to obtain information for the period 1945 to 1955 and in particular the football programmes for those years.   more...

Against GM foods

The European Commission, with the active consent of the Government, has begun to licence the growing of genetically modified crops in Europe. This means that unless the public say that this is unacceptable, both farming and food grown in Wiltshire will soon be containing genetically modified material.   more...

Traffic at top of list

Further to the letter from Mr J Parsons (November 3), he hit the right spot with his comments regarding the traffic chaos in Calne. However, this is not the complete reason for the decline of Calne as a town and its amenities.   more...

Insult to intelligence

I see that the district council is to decide on December 1 whether to accept Malmesbury Town Council's plan to save the Town Hall.   more...

Horrendous night

May I attempt to reach those responsible for organising public events and in particular those associated with organising the event in Crudwell last Saturday evening.   more...

Flats to cause parking chaos

SWINDON Borough Council has now employed a large number of traffic wardens who will be patrolling all parking zones and issuing tickets up to 10pm.   more...

There's no mistaking first festive tune of the year

RUMOURS of my confusion have been greatly exaggerated (SA, Letter, Festive tune? Not till later, Oct 28). Where was Brunel Centre director Nick Beaumont-Jones on October 20 at about 5.45pm? I was at Cafe Revive in Marks & Spencer listening to Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time wafting up from the precinct below. There's no mistaking the first cuckoo of spring, the first firework in October or the first music of the festive season.   more...

Our village life is just heavenly

HAVING been a city and town dwellers for more than 75 years my wife Beryl and I have found Utopia, heaven, real people, good friendly neighbours and volunteers operating our Blunsdon shop ­ a heaven of delights and happy, friendly staff who serve, and care and smile.   more...

Shuddering

I WAS amazed to read the attack on the Vegetarian Society in the Adver.   more...

Signs needed

WITH regard to your news article regarding Sergeant Andy Fortune's comments about drivers being careful at the M4 junction 16 roundabout, I am surprised that there are not more accidents.   more...

Support staff

SO Nick Martin is concerned about benefit claimants? If the council was that concerned, they would never have privatised the service in the first place and would now stop Liberata from moving these jobs up north.   more...

Voters' choice

WITH reference to Councillor Thompson's letter published November 8. It appears that he has forgotten about the Swindon electorate, that he is supposed to represent ­ 2,000 of whom have written to the council to object and a further 26,000 have signed a petition against the University of Bath proposal.   more...

We remember

Re: Scott Watson.   more...

Parents and kids help to raise funds by the letter

Ethan Harvey at the Rodbourne Cheney Pram Club with mum Lisa Picture Ref: 100120-10MUMS and toddlers in Rodbourne Cheney have used their artistic talents to raise cash for a charity close to their hearts.   more...

`I'm being left with nothing'

When his wife left him when his daughter was five, Steve (not his real name), a 48-year-old car mechanic from Swindon didn't realise he would face a battle with the Child Support Agency. He tells his story to LYNDSAY SCANLAN   more...

Hope fades for Salt Way school school

Salt Way Primary School pupils and their parents protest against the proposed closureSHAW Ridge Primary School could be knocked down and rebuilt under the latest plans for West Swindon schools.   more...

Woman hurled abuse at police

AMANDA Ponting landed herself in court after ringing the emergency services and hurling abuse at them.   more...

Blair left reeling after losing vote

TONY Blair's Government is today reeling after controversial anti-terrorism plans were crushed by MPs.   more...

Supermarket is killing our area

Michael Titcombe of Michael's Workwear, Gorse HillTRADERS in Gorse Hill claim they are dying a slow death due to competition from a supermarket giant.   more...

Pubs braced for new law

PUBS and clubs are being asked to put up posters advertising their opening hours as new licensing laws come into force.   more...

Safety checks on gravestones

REPAIRS are needed to 55 gravestones, Wroughton churchyard's annual inspection has found.   more...

Help give kids happier lives

National Adoption Week aims to highlight the need to find loving homes for thousands of children. Victoria Ashford asks Coun Garry Perkins how people apply to be parents   more...

Cabbie in court on rape charge

A TAXI driver has appeared in court charged with the kidnap and rape of a young woman.   more...

Poor health means child porn man escapes a jail sentence

A WHEELCHAIR bound man who admitted possessing child porn has escaped being sent to jail.   more...

Wiltshire police to be abolished

THE Home Office has confirmed the Wiltshire Constabulary will be abolished under restructuring of the police force in the region.   more...

Alert over men selling bogus raffle tickets

POLICE in North Wiltshire are warning householders about a door-to-door raffle scam.   more...

Pulling their hair out for funds

A BEAUTY and massage salon is offering reduced rate therapies ­ but the process might make your hair curl.   more...

You can get help with your heating

PEOPLE on low incomes that have no heating system are being encouraged to apply for a grant from a council- backed initiative.   more...

Assisted dying bill to be considered by the Lords

A SWINDON peer's controversial bid to allow doctors to help terminally-ill people to die has been introduced in the House of Lords.   more...

Katie makes an eggs-traordinary find

Katie Wicks, 3A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl was collecting eggs in a henhouse when she was amazed to find one with her initial on it.   more...

Teachers' training day offers a sound education

TEACHERS have the chance to learn about phonetics at a conference on Friday.   more...

Fingers on buzzers for a charity quiz night

BRAINIACS still have a chance to get their hands on tickets for a quiz with a difference.   more...

Wheelchair pensioner refuses to sit back

AGE Concern Swindon's most travelled wheelchair returned home this week ­ after a trip through the Panama Canal.   more...

Kids are staying up too late

SCHOOL children in Swindon need protecting from the 24 hour society, a MP has warned.   more...

Chance to quiz the councillors

SWINDON residents are being given a chance to quiz councillors before meetings.   more...

County Ground plans on hold

RESIDENTS near the County Ground face another wait before redevelopment plans are revealed.   more...

Sowing the seeds

COTSWOLD Water Park will be helping to sow the seeds of interest in nature among the fertile minds of our youth.   more...

Foal fights for life after new horse slash attack

Horse whisperer Gary Witheford tends to injured foal Rioja, who was left fighting for life in the slash attack. (17749/1)Horse slashers have struck again at horse whisperer Gary Witheford's stables at Burbage leaving a six-month-old foal fighting for her life.   more...

Did you see anything?

JEWELLERY and cash worth nearly £2,000 was stolen from a house in Exmouth Street in Swindon.   more...

Burglars strike elderly women's homes

SWINDON police are appealing for witnesses after two elderly women were burgled in the Blackman Gardens area within three days.   more...

Toddler group opens doors

A STRATTON mother and toddler group is looking for new members.   more...

Focus on cash for theatre

THE RIVERBANK Project in Marlborough is holding a film night to raise funds.   more...

Golf hotel on course to clear the last bunker

A START could be made on the multi-million pound golf resort at Tottenham House in Savernake Forest in the New Year after a last planning hurdle has been overcome.   more...

Vets have fun and raise funds

VETS from across the country descended on the Blunsdon House Hotel in aid of the charity VetAid.   more...

Newts stand in way of plan

GREAT crested newts will be protected when hundreds of homes are built in North Swindon.   more...

Sale will boost school funds

THE friends of St Catherine's Catholic School will be holding a sale to raise cash for the school.   more...

Rangers remember with a wreath

RANGERS in Swindon are holding a remembrance event at the Radnor Street Cemetery this Sunday.   more...

Avon hunt denies breaking the law

POLICE are investigating whether a hunt which took place near Devizes was illegal after a couple claimed hounds chased a fox throug their garden .   more...

Final solution to save Silbury from disaster

THOUSANDS of tourists who have viewed Silbury Hill over the last four and a half years, have probably been unaware of the crisis over its long term stability.   more...

Coins may be treasure

Norman Merritt discovered the Roman coins, top (17802/3)A HOARD of Roman coins will be the subject of a treasure trove inquest in Devizes tomorrow. Metal detectorist Norman Merritt, of West Lavington, unearthed 73 Roman coins while he was searching fields in the village in October 2004.   more...

Driveway plans get green light

COUNCILLORS have gone against advice to allow a Wanborough woman to build a driveway for her house.   more...

Artist says fire-hit home will rise from the ashes

Danger signs adorn the walls of the fire ravaged home, warning people to keep away, but work is already under way to get the cottage restored and inset, Sara Burton (17781/2)ARTIST Sara Burton is determined that her 17th century cottage in Bulkington, near Devizes, will be restored to its original condition after a blaze all but destroyed it.   more...

Petrol plan thrown out

PLANS to rebuild a petrol station in Dorcan have been thrown out by councillors.   more...

Councillor wins appeal

TOWN councillors in Marlborough have been ordered to read up on their own code of conduct to avoid further accusations of improper behaviour.   more...

School is praised after Ofsted's sudden swoop

Pupils and headteacher Malcolm Irons show their delight after an Ofsted inspection, held at just two days' notice, found improving standards and a caring atmosphere at the school (17773/1DV)STAFF at Devizes School are basking in the glow of a report from schools inspectorate Ofsted that says they are good and getting better.   more...

Bird study boosted by partnership

RESEARCH into a species of bird has been boosted by co-operation between the Cotswold Water Park and a local company.   more...

Primary is better than it thinks, says study

The pupils at Urchfont celebrate the good news (17782/02)THE village school at Urchfont, near Devizes, is even better than it thinks it is, says its latest Ofsted report.   more...

Support curry bid says rock frontman

ROCK star Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, who features in today's Life supplement, is urging Swindon people to support a charity dinner that will be the town's biggest Asian meal.   more...

Is this the ghost of Lady Isabella?

WHAT is thought to be the ghost of a 12th century damsel, bricked up in a wall at Devizes Castle by her angry father, has appeared in a photograph taken by Land Registry surveyor Mike Crawshaw.   more...

Hospice bid for festive fundraiser

THERE is still time to sponsor a light on this year's Tree of Thought.   more...

Tribute paid to Rotary stalwart

LAST year's Marlborough Rotary Club president Gordon Spiller died on Tuesday at Swindon's Great Western Hospital. He was 64.   more...

Find the pot of gold at the end of rainbow

A SUPPORT group for women is hoping to be the pot of gold at the end of every rainbow.   more...

Rotary aid to help Kashmir

ROTARIANS in the Marlborough and district club have donated £1,000 towards an appeal to supply emergency homes for the earthquake victims in Kashmir.   more...

Writer set to take to the stage

David Lukens Picture Ref: 100124-33AMATEUR wordsmith David Lukens reckons most people have a novel in them.   more...

College's fees rise broke law

MARLBOROUGH College is among a list of private schools which have broken competition laws by sharing their plans for fee rises, the Office Of Fair Trading has said.   more...

Parish sleuths search for timber thief at allotments

ANGRY parish councillors in Aldbourne are hoping to root out the person responsible for cutting down trees by the village allotments without asking the council for permission.   more...

Epileptic's body lay in her flat for a month

EPILEPTIC Nicola Wade lay dead in her flat for almost a month, an inquest heard. Wiltshire Coroner David Masters heard Miss Wade, 28, had suffered from epilepsy since she was a teenager but despite that insisted on living an independent life away from her family home in Market Lavington.   more...

Man hurls burning monitor out of window

A FAMILY of six escaped without serious injury after a fire broke out at their home in Potterne.   more...

Thieves flee with safe

VIDEO shop proprietor Gordon Terrell was this week increasing security after determined thieves stole a safe with more than £900 in it.   more...

Town future in jeopardy without manager

THE future regeneration of Devizes could be in jeopardy without a new town manager, a town councillor has claimed.   more...

Concern over market danger

KENNET District Council has defended a decision not to close Thursday's market in Devizes despite claims high winds made conditions dangerous.   more...

Petition is launched against shops plan

TOWN councillor Judy Coom has started a petition to object to a plan to build shops on the central car park in Devizes, with the expected loss of up to 158 parking spaces.   more...

Farmer counts cost of inferno that engulfed haystacks

A fire at Gore Cross Farm near West Lavington is likely to have cost farmer Simon Collins more than £100,000.   more...

Egypt lecture is extra treat

AN Egyptology expert from Egypt is to come to Devizes to explain his theory that the ancient seat of the pharaohs at Luxor is the site of the Biblical Garden of Eden.   more...

Entertainment at festive night

ENTERTAINMENT will be a feature of this year's Devizes Christmas Festival, taking place in the town centre on Friday November 25.   more...

£1.65m sports centre gets back on track

Youngsters from White Horse Juniors with club secretary Ross Allking (17729/3NW)GAZETTE & HERALD: Sport in Calne is set to undergo major changes if funding for the project can be won. GORDON SIMPSON looks at the background.   more...

Family forced to move by yobs' reign of terror

GAZETTE & HERALD: A SECURITY guard in war-torn Iraq is to move his family out of Calne after its members became the latest victims of a growing yob culture affecting the town.   more...

Drama students thrilled by trip of a lifetime

GAZETTE & HERALD: DRAMA students from The John Bentley School travelled to New York over half term to experience life on Broadway.   more...

Army woman says sex taunts left her suicidal

GAZETTE & HERALD: Special forces spy Leah Mates broke down in tears this week as she told an employment tribunal of a catalogue of sexual abuse and harassment that has left her feeling suicidal and is forcing her out of the Army.   more...

Town pulls out of joint festival for north Wilts

GAZETTE & HERALD: CALNE Town Council will have no representation at next year's North Wiltshire Festival after refusing to pay the £3,000 needed.   more...

Students visit sites of battles

GAZETTE & HERALD: STUDENTS at John Bentley School in Calne have returned from an emotional trip to Ypres, the site of some of the bloodiest battles of the First World War.   more...

Would you fork out so kids can have hot meals?

Education reporter LYNDSAY SCANLAN went to a meeting on school meals to find out how the town is going to get hot food back on the menu   more...

Children are injured after being hit by car

TWO children were taken to hospital after being hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing.   more...

It's a cracking read, Gromit!

Wallace and GromitIT'S anchors aweigh and full steam ahead for Wallace and Gromit as they set off on a reading adventure around the world ­ and the Swindon Advertiser is on hand to help them along their way.   more...

ID thieves are on the prowl

SWINDON residents are being warned to be on their guard against identity thieves.   more...

Names may make Adam millionaire

Adam Beasant, 13 Picture REf: 100130-37TEENAGER Adam Beasant is hoping to become the next dot.com millionaire tycoon.   more...

What speed should it be?

DRIVERS are being asked how fast they want to travel along one of Swindon's most used roads.   more...

Doctor's flying visit to orphans

Dr Farzin Rahmani is set to visit the Tierra Santa orphanage Picture Ref: 100139-68SWINDON AND PROUD OF IT: A DOCTOR from Swindon is off to Honduras to visit children orphaned by Hurricane Mitch.   more...

Mum gives warning on fireworks

Denis Hammond with his parents Daniel Gould and Sophie HammondTEN-MONTH-OLD Denis Hammond is nursing first-degree burns after being hit with a firework.   more...

`Everyone knows it's a good school'

ST JOSEPH'S is a good school and everyone there knows it.   more...

Villagers to have a say on toilet takeover

Aldbourne residents are to be asked whether they think the village should take over and run its public loos or let Kennet close them.   more...

Final solution to save Silbury from disaster

THOUSANDS of tourists who have viewed Silbury Hill over the last four and a half years, have probably been unaware of the crisis over its long term stability.   more...

Mews scheme wins approval

KENNET District Council's regulatory committee has granted planning permission for ten mews cottages to be built on the Catleys bottled gas depot in Devizes.   more...

Is this the ghost of Lady Isabella?

WHAT is thought to be the ghost of a 12th century damsel, bricked up in a wall at Devizes Castle by her angry father, has appeared in a photograph taken by Land Registry surveyor Mike Crawshaw.   more...

Hunts put on show of strength

As the first post-ban hunting season opens SARAH SINGLETON finds the hunts out in force and the protesters watchful.   more...

Village school shake up looms as numbers fall

SMALL village primary schools are under threat of federation or amalgamation with other schools.   more...

Have your say on police future

MEMBERS of the public can have their say on proposals that could see Wiltshire police merged with neighbouring forces.   more...

Triumph of Century for Gazette's Sarah

GAZETTE reporter Sarah Singleton is on cloud nine after trouncing the country's top children's authors to win an influential national award.   more...

Hospital plan will turn the clock back

Union leaders and MP James Gray were this week united in their battle to stop Malmesbury Hospital being turned into a private nursing home.   more...

Free parking hopes are quashed by council boss

Leader of North Wiltshire District Council Carol O'Gorman has categorically quashed fears that free parking in Wootton Bassett's Borough Fields car park will be reduced to just one hour.   more...

Plans are afoot for carnival

Wootton Bassett's new look carnival team is plotting and planning for next year's celebrations as ideas pour forth into the bubbling melting pot.   more...

Jobs to be created at specialist care home

Thirty new jobs will be available when extension work at Wootton Bassett-based Miranda House Care Home is completed later this month making it the largest elderly mentally infirm nursing unit in Wiltshire.   more...

Taste of Italy comes to town

Cascades of warm chocolate will be just one of the culinary delights set to grace the High Street of Wootton Bassett when a three-day Italian market comes to town next week.   more...

`I dazzled police copter because I was so tired'

HOUSEHOLDER Robert Symons claimed he dazzled the pilot of a police helicopter with a powerful torch late at night because he was tired and wanted it to get away from his house.   more...

Traders suffer another slump

RETAILERS in Swindon are feeling the pinch from weak sales.   more...

Huge new choice for customers at Tesco

SWINDON'S biggest Tesco superstore has officially re-opened after a multi-million pound refurbishment and extension.   more...

Tuck into festive treats on trains

TRAVELLERS on First Great Western trains can get into the festive spirit with the launch of their Christmas menu next week.   more...

Couriers link up

A SWINDON courier firm has entered into an agreement with another courier network to offer a state-of-the-art service.   more...

Cabaret from flappers to Austin Powers

Show hosts Jessica Ridgwell and Jake Chard (17804/07)Sixth formers at Wootton Bassett School will tonight be polishing their performances in time for next week's opening night of the school cabaret.   more...

Royal visit crowns playgroup appeal

Malmesbury potter Clive King with his plaque and mug for Springboard (17791/1)STAFF and children at Springboard, the Gazette's adopted charity, are preparing for the biggest day in its 28-year history after it was revealed Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is paying a visit.   more...

Loss of Saxon stone is a moot point in town

District councillor Ian Henderson at the site on Hundred Hill where the moot stone used to be. (17751/4)THE hunt is on to find an important Saxon stone in Malmesbury ­ six months after anyone noticed it had gone missing.   more...

Going up with a bang

Christine and Neil Hamilton (17764/11)A DESCENDENT of one of the original gunpowder plot conspirators has watched a 20ft model of the Houses of Parliament burnt to cinders.   more...

Cupid's arrow on target

Historian Bob Browning highlights the romantic inscription on a beam that has surfaced after 50 years 17792/1/11The discovery of a 50-year-old romantic inscription has sparked a flood of loving memories for widow Margaret Hazzard, a former worker at a radar factory in Malmesbury.   more...

Hospital plan will turn the clock back

Union leaders and MP James Gray were this week united in their battle to stop Malmesbury Hospital being turned into a private nursing home.   more...

Traffic forces actress to miss out on celebration

ACTRESS Sheila Hancock was full of apologies after missed a nature campaign celebration on Friday because she got stuck in traffic.   more...

Confusion over switch on

Townspeople have still been given no date for the switch-on of Malmesbury's Christmas lights. With confusion surrounding the annual event escalating, a local celebrity has not even been approached to perform the switch-on.   more...

I'll fight on, says mother after son's appeal fails

Mother Iris Baker has vowed to battle on to have her son Nick released from a Japanese jail. The 57-year-old former Oaksey resident was appalled when a Japanese judge rejected her son's appeal against a conviction for drug smuggling, at the end of last month.   more...

Village tops rich list

An incredible 121 potential millionaires live in the pretty little village of Oaksey, according to a survey by the private bank Coutts & Co but Lord Oaksey says he is not one of them   more...

Village history in print

Former bank manager Tony Pain was delighted when the first copy of his pictorial history of Crudwell rolled off the press.   more...

Ex-official's public thanks

Sue Webb, Malmesbury's ex-deputy town clerk, has thanked the community for their support during her 16 years of service to the town council.   more...

Historic hotel looks to expand

Businessman Robert Davis plans to build a £900,000 extension at Stanton Manor Hotel, the former home of Elizabeth I's chief minister Lord Burghley.   more...

Comic relief for disaster areas

A comedy gig in Oaksey this weekend could raise hundreds of pounds to help victims of natural disasters ­proving that laughter is the best medicine.   more...

Friends put forward new vision for museum

A new business plan has been produced to revitalise Malmesbury's Athelstan Museum and make it into a tourist attraction.   more...

School bids to spread word

Parents and teachers have launched a £2,000 fundraising project to buy new fiction books for children at Crudwell School.   more...

Fear over future of sorting office

POSTMEN and villagers in Pewsey are concerned that the village's Royal Mail sorting office could close. It would mean the postmen and women having to travel eight miles to sort their mail and then return to Pewsey to deliver it.   more...

Dog severs gas pipe

Jake the Staffordshire terrier takes another sniff of the piece of pipe he bit through while getting a comforting cuddle from owner Paul Dowse (17801/7)STAFFORDSHIRE terrier Jake caused the evacuation of a Pewsey pub on Saturday when he sank his teeth into a gas pipe ­ after being terrified by a firework.   more...

Prize guy Porritt has audience all a buzz

Green guru Jonathon Porritt spent a day inspiring and advising at North Wiltshire District Council on Friday after councillors Doreen Darby and Carol O'Gorman won his services in a quiz.   more...

Towns get into Christmas spirit with festive events

THE final plans are being laid for Christmas events in Pewsey and Marlborough at which their seasonal lights will be switched on.   more...

Estates reject urban takeover

Chippenham Without Parish Council has slammed North Wiltshire District Council for its plans to bring Cepen Park into Chippenham Town, which would oblige residents to pay as much council tax as other Chippenham households.   more...

Residents urged to club together

PEOPLE disposing of bulk waste are being encouraged to club together with their neighbours to cut the cost of council collection.   more...

Rally school plan refusal challenged

North Wiltshire District Council is defending its decision to refuse planning permission for a rally school at Castle Combe Circuit at an inquiry this week.   more...

Christian father slams `one-sided' RE lessons

Tristian Simpkins, left, with brother Leigh, dad Mick, mum Sue and dog Tammy. Mr Simpkins may pull his son from RE classes because they don't study the Bible enough (17754/1PM)GAZETTE & HERALD: CHRISTIAN dad Michael Simpkins threatened to remove son Tristian, 14, from religious education lessons because they focus on Islam.   more...

Award helps firm spread the word

Glyn Woolley, left, with staff at Coombe Castle celebrating the success of their new spread (17747/3PM)GAZETTE & HERALD: A family firm set up 25 years ago has reached the final of a competition for innovation with a sweet spread based on strawberries and cream.   more...

Teenage drink driver banned

GAZETTE & HERALD: TEENAGER Philip Bartlett has been banned from driving for 19 months after admitting drink driving.   more...

Pub makes history by becoming smoke-free

GAZETTE & HERALD: THE Duke of Cumberland in Corsham, reputedly the oldest pub in the county, has been turned into a completely smoke-free venue.   more...

Low-cost home grant approved

GAZETTE & HERALD: TWENTY-FOUR more affordable houses will be built at Corsham's Pockeredge Farm estate after council bosses agreed to a £1 million grant.   more...

Royal visit crowns playgroup appeal

Springboard manager Jane Cross, centre with young Oscar and staff (17789/6)GAZETTE & HERALD: STAFF and children at Springboard, the Gazette's adopted charity, are preparing for the biggest day in its 28-year history after it was revealed Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is paying a visit.   more...

Keen-eyed officers catch lager thieves in act

Police Community Support Officers Valerie Wagstaff and Gemma Bloomfield with some of the beer they recovered 17808/01GAZETTE & HERALD: BEADY-EYED Police Community Support Officers Val Wagstaff and Gemma Bloomfield have been praised for catching three teenage thieves red-handed.   more...

Up for the cup

GAZETTE & HERALD: SATURDAY saw a bumper crowd cram into Hardenhuish Park in anticipation of yet another cup upset as Chippenham Town hosted higher-league Worcester City in their first FA Cup First Round match for 54 years.   more...

Windfall for Bluebirds if cup replay goes their way

GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM Town's players could earn their club a cash windfall of at least £120,000 if they win their FA Cup First Round replay against Worcester City on Monday night.   more...

TV has made my life smiles better

GAZETTE & HERALD: TELEVISION cameras took over the swimming pool at Chippenham's Olympiad on Thursday as they filmed mum-of-three Emma Mumford revealing the results of thousands of pounds of cosmetic surgery to the nation.   more...

Force is with you, R2

Kenny Baker prepares to start signing autographs, watched by organiser Gary Errill and his son Jordan, right (17760/6)GAZETTE & HERALD: Stars Wars fans turned out in their hundreds on Saturday to meet film star Kenny Baker, who played robot R2D2 in all six of the blockbuster science fiction films.   more...

Legion stalwart honoured for service

GAZETTE & HERALD: DEDICATED poppy seller and war veteran Alan England, 72, was honoured for 20 years of committed service by the Chippenham branch of the Royal British Legion on Friday.   more...

Rock `n' roll battle of the two Cochran festivals

GAZETTE & HERALD: Chippenham could end up hosting two Eddie Cochran festivals next year if rival rock'n'roll groups both proceed with plans for weekend events.   more...

Hoover blows through after firework terror

Hoover the dog, who was recovering from an operation on his foot, has been missing since the weekend and owner Malcolm Gingell fears that he may have suffered due to the fireworks (17798/10)GAZETTE & HERALD: MALCOLM and Maureen Gingell have been desperately searching for their beloved dog Hoover since the terrified mutt bolted out of their garden during the weekend's fireworks.   more...

New shops and offices plan for industrial area

GAZETTE & HERALD: A SUPERMARKET, nursing home, pub and 195 new homes could be on the cards for land at Langley Park in Chippenham if councillors decide the area has scope for redevelopment.   more...

Rugby

Alford will fight appeal all the way to Twickenham

CHIPPENHAM Rugby Club coach Rob Alford said the club would fight all the way to Twickenham if Clevedon's appeal against their defeat is accepted by the South West Appeal's Committee.   more...

Sport

I don't expect a welcome Matt!

MENACING Matt Heywood is not content with threatening to break his old mentor's good leg and now wants Alan Reeves to experience derby day agony ­ but it's nothing personal you understand.   more...

Salisbury Features

Step back in time 2,000

Lesley Bates meets Cranborne's very own time team and finds history in the making.  more...

Families go back to basic living

FOR one week in August, 14 adults, children - including babies - and grandparents moved into the Celtic round house for an experiment in living history.  more...

Nice one Robins, nice one sons

Despite relegation last season, the Downton Robins have every reason to feel chirpy. Lesley Bates went to find out why.  more...

Salisbury News

'Tis the season to be jolly and kind in spirit

ANOTHER year has flown by and the festive season is almost on us again.  more...

David helps England win European gold

DISABLED Salisbury rugby player David Rhodes helped Great Britain to a gold medal at the recent European Champion-ships in Denmark.  more...

Brigade pays tribute to comrades fallen in Iraq

MORE than 200 soldiers from 12 (Mechanised) Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron based at Bulford were at a special service at Bulford Garrison Church last Friday to remember their 12 colleagues killed while on service in Iraq.  more...

Schools to merge

TWO Amesbury schools could merge next year in a bid to stave off financial problems.  more...

Key presses for action on A303

A BYPASS for Winterbourne Stoke, a new flyover at Countess Road and the building of the Stonehenge visitor centre must go ahead regardless of the final solution to traffic problems on the A303 at Stonehenge, said Salisbury MP Robert Key this week.  more...

Anger at proposed parking charges

ANY attempt by Salisbury district council to introduce charges in Amesbury's free town centre car park will be vigorously opposed, town councillors warned at their November meeting.  more...

  
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