Stories for 1 February 2007

Alfie Letters & Jokes

Letter from Olivia Bruce

Dear Alfie, My name is Olivia Bruce and I met you at my schools Christmas party. You were great fun and I liked the way your tail swished about when you walked, I wanted to know if you have ever been to Scotland on holiday?  more...

Letter from Olivia Bruce

Dear Alfie, My name is Olivia Bruce and I met you at my schools Christmas party. You were great fun and I liked the way your tail swished about when you walked, I wanted to know if you have ever been to Scotland on holiday?  more...

Bradford News

Farmer loses animal plan appeal

THE fight against foul smells coming from a farm near Bradford on Avon took another step forward this week as more complaints poured in about the stench from Fairfield Piggeries.  more...

Couple buy Victorian tea room

AN AWARD-winning tea room in Bradford on Avon has been sold.  more...

Council slammed over homes row

AN inquiry into how an authority handled a controversial housing development looks set to conclude it was guilty of maladministration.  more...

Calne News

Metro madness

CAR lover Steve Potter said he has had enough after vandals trashed his beloved Rover Metro 28 times since July.  more...

Pupils try out Parkour moves

YOUNGSTERS at Priestley Primary School in Calne will be getting to grips with the art of Parkour at a special base jumping workshop on Tuesday.  more...

Church despair at vandalism

CHURCHWARDEN Stan Anniss says he is disgusted with vandals who destroyed a notice board outside Holy Trinity Church in Calne two days after it was repaired.  more...

Church despair at vandalism

CHURCH WARDEN Stan Anniss says he is disgusted with vandals who destroyed a notice board outside Holy Trinity Church in Calne two days after it was repaired.  more...

Councillor cleared

North Wiltshire council leader Carol O'Gorman has been cleared of using the council's franking machine to send out invitations to opening of a friend's shop.  more...

Campaigns Change

Firm powers way to greener future

ENERGY firm npower is appealing to Swindon firms to do more for the environment.  more...

Chippenham News

Child sex pest sent back to jail

CHILD sex pest Graham Parks has been jailed for 18 months for breaching an order imposed to prevent him having contact with young girls.  more...

A taxing time for the Inland Revenue

Four pickets stood outside the Inland Revenue building in Chippenham yesterday as part of a nationwide protest by civil servants.  more...

Councillors pledge to keep toilets

TOWN councillors in Chippenham have pledged to back the campaign not only to keep the existing public toilets, but to build more.  more...

Face to face with the history of portraits

AN exhibition at the Fox Talbot Museum in Lacock celebrates the history of the photographic portrait.  more...

Tories keep lid on close ballot

MP James Gray has denied rumours he clung on to his job by just three per cent of Tory members' ballot this week.  more...

Doctor says hospital is ‘not viable’

DOCTOR Nick Brown says the loss of beds at Chippenham's hospital will make it unviable.  more...

Showcasing local produce

THE first Chippenham Winter Beer and Food Festival will be launched next month in a bid to support local rural farms and businesses.  more...

Residents object to respite care homes

RESIDENTS have objected to a plan to house young people with learning difficulties in their street.  more...

Competitions

WIN Yogi Tea prizes

To help you to de-stress and to get in to shape in time for the spring, we have teamed up with Yogi Tea to provide a selection of prizes worth £70 for five readers.  more...

Win a Sony Ericsson w710i MP3 phone

Connexions Wiltshire and Swindon have teamed up with Phones4U to offer a lucky Wiltshire Times reader the chance to win a state of the art Sony Ericsson w710i MP3 mobile phone.  more...

Win an outstanding family holiday to France

We've teamed up with siblu holidays (www.siblu.com), France's leading holiday-parc group, to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fantastic seven-night family holiday, worth up to £650.  more...

Corsham News

Playgroup asks for help to fund move

MANSION House Playgroup is appealing for help to complete a £100,000 fundraising project. The group needs to move premises because the building it uses is being sold.  more...

Fears over bus passes

PENSIONERS who get free bus travel are concerned North Wiltshire District Council has not set aside enough money for next year.  more...

Devizes News

Footloose medic is brought to heel

DEVIZES chiropodist Julie Carter expressed huge relief that a disciplinary hearing has completely exonerated her of charges that she locked her former husband out of their shared practice in the town and deprived him of his patient records.  more...

MP says hospital fight over

DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram fears the fight to save the town's hospital from closure is over.  more...

Runaway car left a trail of destruction

A DRIVER left a trail of destruction after his car careered along a line of garden fences, scattering debris over two parked cars.  more...

Boxing champions’ tribute

PAST and present boxing champions were the pall bearers at the funeral of Devizes man Bert Sanigar at St James' Church.  more...

Purr-fect ending to tale of missing cats

WHEN Einstein the cat hitched a ride in his owner's van he set in train a perfect mystery tale.  more...

First pancake races for town

TOWNSPEOPLE are urged to take part in the first organised pancake race in the Market Place, Devizes.  more...

Plume of flames spark fourth alarm at hotel

STAFF and guests were evacuated from The Bear, Hotel in Devizes after the premises were again hit by fire.  more...

Entertainments

Regain your musical composure at lunch

LISTENING to classical music at lunchtime is the perfect way to break up a day and Sarum College has put together a delightful sequence of lunchtime concerts, which start from tomorrow.  more...

Look-out for Live talent

MUSICIANS are now being signed up to play in the popular Salisbury Live event, held on the opening weekend of Salisbury International Arts Festival.  more...

Making a place for lace

DO you know your striver pin from your bobbin?  more...

Charlotte's stage path leads to Shadowlands

THE chance of returning to Salisbury as a member of the cast in the Playhouse's current production of Shadowlands was an opportunity too good to miss for actor Charlotte Longfield.  more...

Trio offers 'wonderful feast' from revolutionary Russia

RUSSIAN music dominates Howard Moody's chamber concert at Salisbury Arts Centre next Wednesday.  more...

Stringin it together with Sinfonia players

YOUNG violinist Frances Evans returns to Salisbury on February 10 to perform as soloist in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, with Salisbury Sinfonia.  more...

Filmreview

Dreamgirls (12A) - 5/10

FOR a film set mostly in Detroit, featuring an all-girl singing group and with much of its focus on that city's record industry, there is something distinctly absent from Dreamgirls.  more...

Gazette Events

Chippenham Winter Beer and Food Festival - Olympiad Leisure Centre

FEBRUARY 9 - 10 2007, CHIPPENHAM: THE first Chippenham Winter Beer and Food Festival will be launched next month in a bid to support local rural farms and businesses.  more...

Gazette Football

Devizes sign new striker

Devizes Town have signed striker Scott Griffin from Cirencester and he is set to play on Saturday against Radstock.  more...

Gazette Nostalgia

Organ plays a part

SOME visitors to Calne will barely touch the surface of its history, thinking only of its rise and fall at the time of the Harris bacon and sausage factory.  more...

Gazette Obituaries

Bob Watts

GREAT grandfather Bob Watts who has died aged 100 had an unusual claim to fame. Mr Watts, who would have been 101 in a few weeks time was one of the oldest men in the Pewsey Vale.  more...

Joyce Doidge

THE funeral of well known Chippenham pianist Joyce Doidge was held yesterday at Central Methodist Church on Monkton Hill. The 78-year-old grandmother died peacefully at Bath Royal United Hospital on January 17 after a short illness.  more...

Charlie Todd

Charlie Todd collapsed and died at his home at Dean Farm, Oaksey, on December 22 after a long period of poor health.  more...

Joan Elizabeth Ody

Although living for nearly 20 years in the hamlet of Chelworth, near Malmesbury, it is fair to say that nearby Clattinger Farm is where the overwhelming majority of collective memories of Joan Ody rest.  more...

Eileen Soanes

FRIENDS will gather tomorrow in Pickwick, Corsham, to celebrate the life of an active and central member of the community Eileen Soanes, who died in hospital on January 19, aged 87.  more...

George Jones

The funeral of George Jones, 78, at St Bartholomew's Church, Wootton Bassett, featured warm tributes by his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Irvine Osborne, to this kind, thoughtful family man.  more...

Gazette Sue Pycroft Column

Drowning not waving - 1st February 2007

Go on, admit it. Doesn't one of your most secret fantasies involve being a Member of the European Parliament?  more...

Gazette Swindon Town Fc

Youth team into quarter finals

FA Youth Cup Swindon Town 3 Burnley 1 Former Devizes schoolboy Luke Hopper was on target twice last night to help Swindon into the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup.  more...

Gazette Theatre & Arts

Enchanting duo

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan Rondo Theatre, Bath For a rare gig in their adopted home town, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan - nominees for best duo at the 2007 BBC Radio Two Folk Awards, and winners of that same award in 2003 - utterly ensorcelled a sold-out house.  more...

Journal Features

Fundraisers do it lying down

Sleeping under the stars is not all it's cracked up to be, as down-and-out Lesley Bates discovers  more...

Journal Football

Red card annoys Shrews boss Withers

A VALIANT performance was not enough to save ten-man Shrewton United, who lost 2-0 at home to Ilfracombe Town after finding themselves on the wrong end of two controversial referee's decisions.  more...

Wessex League latest

DOWNTON'S Sydenhams Wessex League Cup hopes ended on Tuesday night as they lost 1-0 at home to Lymington Town, who now face VTFC in the semi-finals.  more...

Journal Rugby

Skipper praises club's young guns

SALISBURY got over the disappointment of last week's unexpected home defeat by Henley Wanderers in the best possible way - with a convincing win over an improving High Wycombe side.  more...

Letters

Questions need answers

WHILE Devizes Action to Save our Hospital 2 (DASH2) appreciates a decision finally being made on the Pathways for Change proposals, we deeply regret and deplore the loss of hospital beds and maternity facilities which we fought long and hard to retain.  more...

Chamber is not against supermarkets

I WOULD welcome the chance to respond to, and reassure, the readers who have expressed concerns Marlborough Chamber of Commerce is anti-supermarket' (letters, January 25).  more...

GPs could profit

THE Wiltshire PCT's proposals reveal the deals that have been going on behind the scenes. Some GPs look to have been given a licence to print money with the new Primary Care Centres.  more...

Now we can park

WHAT a fuss about closing our precious' hospital. Now, at last, we can free up some valuable land for much-needed parking, as well as housing development along the canal front.  more...

Unit is brilliant

WITH reference to the PCT plans to close part of Savernake Hospital, I would like to say that the Farmer Unit under the care of Dr Simon Manchip should be used as an example of excellence in design, planning and specialist care.  more...

Course helps patients

AS volunteer tutors of the Expert Patients Programme, we are writing to complain about your recent article entitled Go on a Course to Cure Yourself', which we believe was highly misleading.  more...

Spend a penny?

WE were told that closure of the public conveniences in Devizes was on the grounds of cost. Now we find that the council is spending £593,000 on the one replacement.  more...

Hello, hello, hello, who’s answering?

ON January 18, 2007 I rang police headquarters to enquire about conditions on the M4 east.  more...

Trees enrich our area

DAVID Lamb writes of trees in Devizes being drastically cut by tree surgeons and similar butchers are also active in Marlborough.  more...

Olympics folly

I READ with astonishment the story of a small group of misguided or delusional local people who think it a bit of a wheeze to apply for an Olympic village of some kind in Chippenham.  more...

Taxis are a nuisance

I AM a regular passenger in a vehicle which has to travel along New Road in Chippenham. We have to go past a row of taxis which are usually parked opposite the Black Horse public house.  more...

Mindless vandals

WE are a charity that exists to raise money for the repair and improvements to Holy Trinity Church in Wessington Avenue, Calne. The church was built about 150 years ago. The majority of the friends are pensioners on limited incomes.  more...

Union Jack obsolete

I AM puzzled by the recent surge in popularity for the United Kingdom Independent Party.  more...

Asda plan is lunacy

IT will be an act of absolute lunacy if the proposed development of an Asda superstore at Langley Park is given the green light to go ahead.  more...

Malmesbury News

‘Scrap metal’ piece is rare Roman coin

A ROMAN coin buried in the depths of Malmesbury's Athelstan Museum has been unearthed.  more...

School trip cancelled

THE United Nations, which withheld funding to bring African children to Malmesbury because of the threat of terrorism, has now withdrawn from the scheme altogether.  more...

Marlborough News

No to ‘hen hutches’ at £250,000

DISTRICT councillors have agreed with residents' concerns and voted against a scheme for 25 flats in Marlborough.  more...

Pub raiders escape with charity tin

THIEVES who struck at the Blue Lion pub in Collingbourne Ducis on Monday added an Air Ambulance Appeal collecting tin to their haul.  more...

MP takes time out for award winning group

DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram made a special visit to meet award-winning young people in Aldbourne.  more...

Druids call for burial

DRUIDS are demanding the re-burial of a child's skeleton displayed in the stone circle museum in Avebury.  more...

Ex-firefighter backs call for chief to quit

CALLS have been made for the resignation of Wiltshire Fire Authority chairman Jerry Willmott over what is claimed to be a racist e-mail.  more...

Youths’ shame over drunken dance

DRUNKEN teenagers Stefan Pfefferle-Parker and Alexander Combe caused more than £1,000 damage by dancing on a car at a party in Little Bedwyn, a court heard.  more...

Consultant confident of rescue

THE award winning Farmer Unit that deals with elderly mentally ill patients at Savernake Hospital, Marlborough, might be saved.  more...

Melksham News

Fox's cunning plan for new signs

A LANDLORD ordered to take down his pub signs because they had pictures on them instead of words has applied for planning permission to put new ones up.  more...

Michelletompkins

Don’t pooh-pooh cleaning up

AS a parent you get used to dealing with poo. From changing nappies to potty training to flushing the loo because someone else forgot to, poo is as much a part of parenthood as sleepless nights and the school run.  more...

New Forest News

Millenium clock upgrade

STORMS that recently battered Ringwood called time on the town's Millennium Clock.  more...

Other Sport

Rod & Line (February 1)

LAST week's cold snap took the edge off carp fishing but sport with pike and perch improved.  more...

Silver medals for young swimmers

TWO swimmers represented Salisbury Stingrays in the second session of the Wiltshire Championship season, held at Tidworth.  more...

Solitary strike sees off rivals

SALISBURY Hockey Club's ladies got the better of their Wiltshire rivals Marlborough to keep hold of joint second place in the Central League's Premier Division.  more...

Pewsey News

Man dies 19 years after deadly dose

CHRONIC anorexic David Johnson died 19 years after taking an overdose of weedkiller and kettle descaler which left him prone to infections an inquest heard last Wednesday.  more...

Veteran bandsman dies

FORMER Kennet Valley bandsman Bob Watts has died in hospital just a few weeks before his 101st birthday.  more...

Laid to rest in Africa

ONE week after friends had crowded into Pewsey parish church for a thanksgiving service for Eunice Balcombe, her funeral took place in her native Kenya.  more...

Salisbury Business News

Appointments at NatWest

MIKE Donnachie has been appointed NatWest's senior director of business banking for Wiltshire.  more...

'Incredibly wonderful lady' celebrates

SOLICITORS Bonallack & Bishop have recognised the loyal service of Mary Hunt, who has notched up 25 years in the legal profession.  more...

Firms encouraged to enter national contests

ORGANISATIONS in Wiltshire and Dorset are being urged to enter two national business competitions - the National Business Awards and the Manufacturing Excellence Awards.  more...

Salisbury Children'S Page

Pull out your wooly mitts!

HI Gang and a bright and breezy February welcome to your very own page.  more...

Salisbury City Fc News

Reserves win at Yeading

SALISBURY City's reserves were 2-1 winners away at Yeading last night in their latest Capital League fixture.  more...

Prince would love another chance to lift Trophy

LUKE Prince is hoping that history is about to repeat itself.  more...

Tommy's on the way back

SALISBURY City player-coach Tommy Widdrington has today been given the go-ahead to return to full training.  more...

City are underdogs

SALISBURY City head to Conference North promotion hopefuls Kettering Town on Saturday for their FA Trophy third round clash as underdogs according to Independent Bookmakers.  more...

Trophy on display at Kettering

THE FA TROPHY will be on display at Rockingham Road before Saturday's third round tie between Kettering Town and Salisbury City.  more...

Salisbury News

Hospital appeal reaches for stars

A MAJOR new fundraising challenge to provide life-saving equipment at Salisbury District Hospital will be launched by the Earl of Pembroke tomorrow night.  more...

Store's delivery driver gets too close for comfort

STAFF at Marks and Spencer in Salisbury got more than they bargained for from their morning deliveries this week, after a lorry smashed through the wall of their loading bay.  more...

Salisbury Rural Focus

Cracking good green message

PAUL Knight, the former owner of Langford Fisheries, now a wildlife nature reserve, has put pen to paper in a bid to get over to young people the importance of the countryside and the need to protect its future.  more...

Stfc Headlines

SWINDON TOWN: One in, two out!

FRENCHMAN Patrick Noubissie beat last night's transfer deadline to put pen to paper on a deal at the County Ground.  more...

SWINDON TOWN: Youngsters hop into quarters

HEAD of youth Dave Byrne hailed his young guns last night after they booked a quarter-final place in the FA Youth Cup.  more...

SWINDON TOWN: Roberts grateful to Town’s ‘Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’

BLAIR Sturrock has yet to bag a dramatic Champions League final winner but fellow striker Christian Roberts says Town are grateful to have their very own Ole Gunnar Solksjaer on the books, writes JON RITSON.  more...

Swindon And Proud Campaign

A little bit of support

POLICE community support officers have been travelling in style in recent weeks thanks to a Mini gesture of goodwill.  more...

Swindon Football

FOOTBALL: Supermarine skipper fractures cheekbone

SWINDON Supermarine skipper Steve Davies will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his cheekbone for the second time this campaign.  more...

FOOTBALL: Supermarine skipper fractures cheekbone

SWINDON Supermarine skipper Steve Davies will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his cheekbone for the second time this campaign.  more...

Swindon General Sport

Adver winner set for French event

The Swindon Advertiser's Junior Sports Personality of the Year Louise Hunt is among four of Britain's leading juniors who have earned the right to contest the Cruyff Foundation Wheelchair Tennis Juniors Masters in France.  more...

BOXING: Year I go, says gold medal winner Jamie

JAMIE Cox may already be a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, but he admits the next 12 months will be the most important period of his boxing career.  more...

GOLF: Howell’s aiming to tame the Tiger once again

Few people can claim to have got the better of Tiger Woods on the golf course but David Howell is hoping to use his experience against the world no 1 at the Dubai Desert Classic this week.  more...

Oldest swinger in town?

RAY BURROUGHS meets Frank Reynolds, a man whose passion for golf shows no sign of waning.  more...

TRAMPOLINING: Medal haul for Evolution

Evolution Trampoline Club started the new competition season in style in Taunton last weekend.  more...

ATHLETICS: Marathon man Mitchinson plotting his path to London

ALL roads lead to London as far as Dave Mitchinson is now concerned, writes KEVIN FAHEY.  more...

NETBALL: Lawn sides in fine form

LAWN enjoyed one of their best weekends of the netball season with a senior double at the weekend.  more...

Swindon Homes News

Town homes boost first-time buyers

UP to 100 homes in two developments in Swindon have been chosen as the first in the country to be offered under the First-Time Buyers' Initiative.  more...

Swindon Jobs News

Strikers get point across

SWINDON tax workers say 90 per cent of staff walked out in support of a union strike opposing job cuts.  more...

Swindon Letters

Let burgled school be

IN response to your articles on page 1 and 5 of the Advertiser on January 30 concerning the break-ins at Colebrook Infant School, and in particular the comment on page 8.  more...

Search for Gladys leads to Canada

JUST recently I received a cutting from a newspaper asking me if I could pinpoint any information about someone by the name of Gladys Ann Morris who once lived in Pembroke Gardens.  more...

Trust should listen to this

WHAT is the NHS trust thinking about by handing over the audiology department to the private sector?  more...

Who do we jail?

Apparently the invasion of privacy of a child by a paedophile is a lesser crime than that of an invasion of privacy by a reporter!  more...

Boycott duck farms

Few could fail to be moved by the recent story of plucky Perky the duck whose survival instincts were so strong she cheated death three times.  more...

Shame on the PM

I WAS disgusted to read that Tony Blair did not attend the day-long debate on the Iraq war in the House of Commons on Wednesday, January 24.  more...

Trams, canals – no automobiles

OVER recent years the redevelopment of central Swindon has gained momentum and, hopefully, the current scheme will be carried through to completion.  more...

Swindon Music

Beatbullyz - The 12 Bar

FEBRUARY 1 2007, SWINDON: Beatbullyz have a lot to celebrate and tonight they will be holding a birthday bash for Bozo from the band.  more...

Limehouse Lizzy - The 12 Bar

FEBRUARY 2 2007, SWINDON: Wayne Ellis leads Limehouse Lizzy, a popular band paying tribute to their heroes Thin Lizzy. He is joined in the band by Andy Fox, Greg Alcock and Greg Hart.  more...

Lighterthief - The Beehive

FEBRUARY 4 2007, SWINDON: Swindon's Billy Jones plays harmonica with Lighterthief on Sunday.  more...

Swindon News

New arrest in hammer attack case

ANOTHER teenager has been arrested in connection with the hammer attack on Ridgeway School pupil Henry Webster.  more...

‘It’s certainly not a U-turn’

THE Wroughton park and ride has been saved from the axe - for now. Swindon Council will keep the gates open at the commuter car park while it investigates the financial case for the service over the next few months.  more...

Who put that post there?

THIS trashed hatchback car flattened traffic lights and caused road chaos in North Swindon.  more...

Who put that post there?

THIS trashed hatchback car flattened traffic lights and caused road chaos in North Swindon.  more...

Join the club if you like a good moan

SIX self-confessed "grumpy old men" from Highworth have reached legendary status with their regular grumbles.  more...

Giving the public what they want

TAXPAYERS want more recycling, better youth services and cleaner streets but look set to pay as much as four per cent extra on their council tax for it.  more...

Government should do more for care home residents

SWINDON Council is backing a call for more money for struggling pensioners. But Coun David Renard, the cabinet member for health, housing and social care, believes it is up to the Government to provide the extra cash.  more...

Soccer stars rally to raise cash for Karl

INTERNATIONAL sports stars are helping to raise money for a young Swindon man battling a rare back cancer.  more...

Soldiers plan marathon ride

A TEAM of soldiers are planning to cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End to help two young kidney patients.  more...

Flyover opening has been delayed

THE opening of the new Commonhead flyover has been delayed. The improved A419 junction was due to welcome traffic on the northbound carriageway for the first time today.  more...

Campaigners delighted as phone mast vanishes

PHONE mast campaigners are finally claiming victory after mobile company workers turned up to remove the pole blighting their lives.  more...

Oyster comes out of its shell

TRAIN operator First Great Western has announced that it is planning to implement Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) travelcards across its network.  more...

Lorry driver is in stable condition

LORRY driver Paul Walters, who was thrown from the cab of his out-of-control truck, is still described as being in a stable condition.  more...

Greendown School wins specialist status

GREENDOWN Community School has been awarded specialist status by the Government.  more...

Strikers get point across

SWINDON tax workers say 90 per cent of staff walked out in support of a union strike opposing job cuts.  more...

Falcon found after appeal

A FALCON which went missing after escaping from his cage has been found safe and well.  more...

Jan will lead the way

JAN Shadick will remain at the helm of Headlands School if the proposed £34m academy receives the necessary Government funding.  more...

Now it’s even easier to cast your vote

ELECTORS will have more than a week to cast their vote with an internet trial to be held at the council election in May.  more...

Town homes boost first-time buyers

UP to 100 homes in two developments in Swindon have been chosen as the first in the country to be offered under the First-Time Buyers' Initiative.  more...

Steam Museum is back in business

SWINDON'S Steam Museum has reopened after work was carried out to install a new heating system.  more...

Flying missions in the danger zone

Since last November men and women from RAF Lyneham have been working around the clock in a far-flung corner of the Qatari desert. Anthony Osborne spent several days there to find out more.  more...

Flying missions in the danger zone

Since last November men and women from RAF Lyneham have been working around the clock in a far-flung corner of the Qatari desert. Anthony Osborne spent several days there to find out more.  more...

Smashing repair job!

A CAR repair firm has put a Swindon family back on the road after their car was damaged by thugs.  more...

Do you know who owns sluice gates?

THE Environment Agency is appealing for the owners of sluice gates in Cirencester to come forward to help with vital work in managing flood risk along the River Churn.  more...

Leisure centre closures pledge

SPORTS Minister Richard Caborn has promised to look into the planned closures of Wootton Bassett and Cricklade leisure centres.  more...

Gym? Just go pole-dancing

AMATEUR pole dancers, just picking up the art of seduction, performed in front of a packed bar for the first time last night.  more...

Firm powers way to greener future

ENERGY firm npower is appealing to Swindon firms to do more for the environment.  more...

Volunteers get to the root of art

MORE than 100 volunteers have helped build a 15-metre living sculpture. The sculpture at Keynes Country Park, near Cirencester, was made using intertwined branches from living willow trees.  more...

Sneak thief gang suspects are held

POLICE believe they may have cracked a gang who break into homes while families are asleep.  more...

A little bit of support

POLICE community support officers have been travelling in style in recent weeks thanks to a Mini gesture of goodwill.  more...

Householders to see bills fall

THOUSANDS of homes in Swindon will see their gas and electricity bills go down in the next few months.  more...

Swindon Council signs multi-million privatisation deal

SWINDON Council has signed a £243m deal to privatise its backroom staff.  more...

Kelly finds a dream dress

ADVER Bride of the Year Kelly Yates is all set to look the part as she walks down the aisle.  more...

Full review of mum’s death is welcomed

THE brother of a murder victim has welcomed the start of a Home Office review of her death but says it doesn't go far enough.  more...

Spider weaves magic web

A TALKING spider starred in a swashbuckling sea voyage in Lyneham Theatre Club's pantomime Little Miss Muffet.  more...

Arty students place science in the spotlight

STUDENTS at Swindon College have been looking at life at the Science Museum through a lens.  more...

Swindon Speedway

SPEEDWAY: Meet Moore at fans forum

NEW SIGNING Andrew Moore will be one of the riders present at the Swindon Speedway fans forum being staged tonight.  more...

Swindon Theatre & Arts

Where You From? - New Theatre

FEBRUARY 3 2007, OXFORD: Comedian Lenny Henry says he would not make a great candidate for appearing on I'm A Celebrity as he refuses to eat witchety grubs and takes a tuxedo into the jungle.  more...

If I Were You - Oxford Playhouse

FEBRUARY 5 - 10 2007, OXFORD: Actress Liza Goddard was bowled over when she worked with the late Richard Burton on the TV series Wagner.  more...

Times Chippenhem Town Fc

Perrin breaks his silence

DARREN Perrin has broken his three week long silence and revealed for the first time how he is coping with his continuing suspension from his job as manager of Chippenham Town.  more...

Perrin breaks his silence

DARREN Perrin has broken his three week long silence and revealed for the first time how he is coping with his continuing suspension from his job as manager of Chippenham Town.  more...

Times Football

Bradford strengthen squad

BRADFORD Town's new co-managers Paul Ranger and Nigel Tripp have boosted their squad with two new signings.  more...

Biddestone snap up Penning

BIDDESTONE have signed utility player Phil Penning from Hellenic League outfit Pewsey Vale.  more...

Goal ace Glenn will not be rushed

CALNE Town goal ace Glenn Armstrong is refusing to be rushed into a decision on his future.  more...

Trowbridge News

Stonemason plans Angel rival

A STONEMASON is hoping his latest creation will be selected as a landmark to celebrate the 2012 Olympics in London.  more...

Warminster News

Horse sanctuary faces cash crisis

A SANCTUARY providing a home for old and abandoned horses could be forced to close unless more money is found to pay for their food and treatment.   more...

Wiltshire News

‘You have betrayed us’

MP Michael Ancram has condemned the decision by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to close community hospitals and cut beds saying it is a betrayal' of the interests of local people.  more...

Axe will fall on health jobs

JEFF James, chief executive of Wiltshire PCT, was unable to say how many staff would be made redundant as a result of hospital closures.  more...

£6,000 for ambulance

A YEAR of fundraising by staff at the Defence Communications Service Agency and their partners BT, meant the Wiltshire Air Ambulance was able to fly in and receive a cheque for more than £6,000.  more...

Rowers battle boiling seas

ATLANTIC rowers Stu Turnbull and Ed Baylis have missed out on setting a new world record.  more...

A timely challenge

A COMPETITION has been launched for young people to select the contents of a time capsule.  more...

Apprentice winner launches talent search

Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry was at New College Swindon today to launch a search for a hidden business talent.  more...

Woottonbassett News

Reverend awarded medal

WOOTTON Bassett vicar Rev Thomas Woodhouse has been awarded a medal of service by the British Fire Services Association.  more...

Go-ahead for controversial bio fuel plant

PLANS for a large development of stables and a bio-diesel facility at Old Park Farm, near Wootton Bassett, were due to get the go-ahead from North Wiltshire District Council last night.  more...

Youth Minor League Announcements

Change of Manager Details

Biddestone FC (U10 Yellow)  more...

Salisbury Journal Business

'Incredibly wonderful lady' celebrates

SOLICITORS Bonallack & Bishop have recognised the loyal service of Mary Hunt, who has notched up 25 years in the legal profession.   more...

Firms encouraged to enter national contests

ORGANISATIONS in Wiltshire and Dorset are being urged to enter two national business competitions - the National Business Awards and the Manufacturing Excellence Awards.   more...

Appointments at NatWest

MIKE Donnachie has been appointed NatWest's senior director of business banking for Wiltshire.   more...

Salisbury Journal News

Battle on over 'super council'

CABINET members on Salisbury district council have met behind closed doors to prepare a battle plan to fight Wiltshire county council proposals to become a unitary authority.   more...

Thieves take car and dog

A PENSIONER has been left devastated after her dog was taken when her car was stolen last week.   more...

Teams fake drama out of a crisis

THE helicopter buzzing overhead, bloodied bodies lying on the floor and armed police charging down the street indicated that something terrible had happened in Salisbury last week, but fortunately the whole the thing was just a practice.   more...

PCT to create community teams

MORE people will be treated at home rather than in hospital under radical proposals announced this week by health care bosses.   more...

Trail tribute to former councillor

PLANS are being formulated to create a Heritage Trail in and around Downton as a permanent memorial to Margaret Peach, the Salisbury district councillor and Downton parish councillor who died in September last year.   more...

College board members discuss possible merger

BOSSES at Salisbury College are looking into the possibility of merging with a larger college in a bid to meet the future needs of the area.   more...

CAB appeals for help in funding pensioners' advice service

VALUABLE help for pensioners in tackling the minefield of paperwork involved with claiming benefits could be coming to an end if funding is not found.   more...

Race group fights to keep cash lifeline

A PLEA has been made to Salisbury district council to reconsider its decision to withdraw financial support from the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council following an emergency meeting of the charity's trustees.   more...

Pupils enjoy a lesson in food

YEAR 5 pupils at St Marks Junior School were treated to an informative lesson about food and a tasty meal for their troubles.   more...

Millenium clock upgrade

STORMS that recently battered Ringwood called time on the town's Millennium Clock.   more...

The Burgate maps £1.6million annexe

THE Burgate School's popular sixth form centre is set to expand as building work commences in the summer on an £1.6 million annexe, which will allow student numbers to increase to 290 when it opens in September 2008.   more...

Using new weapons in war against crime

Dorset's crime scene investigation unit is rated as one of the best in the country   more...

Deputy mayor joins army cadets

FORDINGBRIDGE deputy mayor Jean Willis joined the army cadets last week for a glimpse of life on the frontline, as seen through the eyes of the Army's combat camera team.   more...

New limb campaign on target

AN INSPIRATIONAL woman with Spina Bifida who has faced a lifetime of physical hardship will have a brand new, state-of-the-art limb made for her this spring.   more...

Sue snaps a top prize in photo competition

A STUNNING image captured by Fordingbridge woman Sue Loader has won third prize in the Royal Horticultural Society's photo   more...

Avonway stalwart says goodbye

CARETAKER and friend of Avonway Margaret Nicklen retired after 30 years' service when a "Thank You Margaret" coffee morning was held last week.   more...

Star faces the music in barn planning row

POP icon Sting has found himself embroiled in a legal dispute over a barn built on his £7m, 800-acre estate in Lake in the Woodford Valley.   more...

Salisbury Journal Sport

Trophy on display at Kettering

THE FA TROPHY will be on display at Rockingham Road before Saturday's third round tie between Kettering Town and Salisbury City.   more...

Tommy's on the way back

SALISBURY City player-coach Tommy Widdrington has today been given the go-ahead to return to full training.   more...

Rod & Line (February 1)

LAST week's cold snap took the edge off carp fishing but sport with pike and perch improved.   more...

Silver medals for young swimmers

TWO swimmers represented Salisbury Stingrays in the second session of the Wiltshire Championship season, held at Tidworth.   more...

Red card annoys Shrews boss Withers

A VALIANT performance was not enough to save ten-man Shrewton United, who lost 2-0 at home to Ilfracombe Town after finding themselves on the wrong end of two controversial referee's decisions.   more...

Wessex League latest

DOWNTON'S Sydenhams Wessex League Cup hopes ended on Tuesday night as they lost 1-0 at home to Lymington Town, who now face VTFC in the semi-finals.   more...

Skipper praises club's young guns

SALISBURY got over the disappointment of last week's unexpected home defeat by Henley Wanderers in the best possible way - with a convincing win over an improving High Wycombe side.   more...

Solitary strike sees off rivals

SALISBURY Hockey Club's ladies got the better of their Wiltshire rivals Marlborough to keep hold of joint second place in the Central League's Premier Division.   more...

Reserves win at Yeading

SALISBURY City's reserves were 2-1 winners away at Yeading last night in their latest Capital League fixture.   more...

Prince would love another chance to lift Trophy

LUKE Prince is hoping that history is about to repeat itself.   more...

City are underdogs

SALISBURY City head to Conference North promotion hopefuls Kettering Town on Saturday for their FA Trophy third round clash as underdogs according to Independent Bookmakers.   more...

Swindon Advertiser News

Campaigners delighted as phone mast vanishes

PHONE mast campaigners are finally claiming victory after mobile company workers turned up to remove the pole blighting their lives.   more...

Oyster comes out of its shell

TRAIN operator First Great Western has announced that it is planning to implement Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) travelcards across its network.   more...

Lorry driver is in stable condition

LORRY driver Paul Walters, who was thrown from the cab of his out-of-control truck, is still described as being in a stable condition.   more...

Greendown School wins specialist status

GREENDOWN Community School has been awarded specialist status by the Government.   more...

Jan will lead the way

JAN Shadick will remain at the helm of Headlands School if the proposed £34m academy receives the necessary Government funding.   more...

Falcon found after appeal

A FALCON which went missing after escaping from his cage has been found safe and well.   more...

Strikers get point across

SWINDON tax workers say 90 per cent of staff walked out in support of a union strike opposing job cuts.   more...

Now it’s even easier to cast your vote

ELECTORS will have more than a week to cast their vote with an internet trial to be held at the council election in May.   more...

Town homes boost first-time buyers

UP to 100 homes in two developments in Swindon have been chosen as the first in the country to be offered under the First-Time Buyers' Initiative.   more...

Steam Museum is back in business

SWINDON'S Steam Museum has reopened after work was carried out to install a new heating system.   more...

Flying missions in the danger zone

Since last November men and women from RAF Lyneham have been working around the clock in a far-flung corner of the Qatari desert. Anthony Osborne spent several days there to find out more.   more...

Smashing repair job!

A CAR repair firm has put a Swindon family back on the road after their car was damaged by thugs.   more...

Do you know who owns sluice gates?

THE Environment Agency is appealing for the owners of sluice gates in Cirencester to come forward to help with vital work in managing flood risk along the River Churn.   more...

Leisure centre closures pledge

SPORTS Minister Richard Caborn has promised to look into the planned closures of Wootton Bassett and Cricklade leisure centres.   more...

Gym? Just go pole-dancing

AMATEUR pole dancers, just picking up the art of seduction, performed in front of a packed bar for the first time last night.   more...

Firm powers way to greener future

ENERGY firm npower is appealing to Swindon firms to do more for the environment.   more...

Volunteers get to the root of art

MORE than 100 volunteers have helped build a 15-metre living sculpture. The sculpture at Keynes Country Park, near Cirencester, was made using intertwined branches from living willow trees.   more...

Sneak thief gang suspects are held

POLICE believe they may have cracked a gang who break into homes while families are asleep.   more...

A little bit of support

POLICE community support officers have been travelling in style in recent weeks thanks to a Mini gesture of goodwill.   more...

New arrest in hammer attack case

ANOTHER teenager has been arrested in connection with the hammer attack on Ridgeway School pupil Henry Webster.   more...

Full review of mum’s death is welcomed

THE brother of a murder victim has welcomed the start of a Home Office review of her death but says it doesn't go far enough.   more...

Spider weaves magic web

A TALKING spider starred in a swashbuckling sea voyage in Lyneham Theatre Club's pantomime Little Miss Muffet.   more...

Arty students place science in the spotlight

STUDENTS at Swindon College have been looking at life at the Science Museum through a lens.   more...

‘It’s certainly not a U-turn’

THE Wroughton park and ride has been saved from the axe - for now. Swindon Council will keep the gates open at the commuter car park while it investigates the financial case for the service over the next few months.   more...

Householders to see bills fall

THOUSANDS of homes in Swindon will see their gas and electricity bills go down in the next few months.   more...

Who put that post there?

THIS trashed hatchback car flattened traffic lights and caused road chaos in North Swindon.   more...

Swindon Council signs multi-million privatisation deal

SWINDON Council has signed a £243m deal to privatise its backroom staff.   more...

Kelly finds a dream dress

ADVER Bride of the Year Kelly Yates is all set to look the part as she walks down the aisle.   more...

Join the club if you like a good moan

SIX self-confessed "grumpy old men" from Highworth have reached legendary status with their regular grumbles.   more...

Giving the public what they want

TAXPAYERS want more recycling, better youth services and cleaner streets but look set to pay as much as four per cent extra on their council tax for it.   more...

Government should do more for care home residents

SWINDON Council is backing a call for more money for struggling pensioners. But Coun David Renard, the cabinet member for health, housing and social care, believes it is up to the Government to provide the extra cash.   more...

Soccer stars rally to raise cash for Karl

INTERNATIONAL sports stars are helping to raise money for a young Swindon man battling a rare back cancer.   more...

Soldiers plan marathon ride

A TEAM of soldiers are planning to cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End to help two young kidney patients.   more...

Flyover opening has been delayed

THE opening of the new Commonhead flyover has been delayed. The improved A419 junction was due to welcome traffic on the northbound carriageway for the first time today.   more...

Swindon Advertiser Sport

SWINDON TOWN: One in, two out!

FRENCHMAN Patrick Noubissie beat last night's transfer deadline to put pen to paper on a deal at the County Ground.   more...

SWINDON TOWN: Youngsters hop into quarters

HEAD of youth Dave Byrne hailed his young guns last night after they booked a quarter-final place in the FA Youth Cup.   more...

SWINDON TOWN: Roberts grateful to Town’s ‘Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’

BLAIR Sturrock has yet to bag a dramatic Champions League final winner but fellow striker Christian Roberts says Town are grateful to have their very own Ole Gunnar Solksjaer on the books, writes JON RITSON.   more...

BOXING: Year I go, says gold medal winner Jamie

JAMIE Cox may already be a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, but he admits the next 12 months will be the most important period of his boxing career.   more...

GOLF: Howell’s aiming to tame the Tiger once again

Few people can claim to have got the better of Tiger Woods on the golf course but David Howell is hoping to use his experience against the world no 1 at the Dubai Desert Classic this week.   more...

Oldest swinger in town?

RAY BURROUGHS meets Frank Reynolds, a man whose passion for golf shows no sign of waning.   more...

SPEEDWAY: Meet Moore at fans forum

NEW SIGNING Andrew Moore will be one of the riders present at the Swindon Speedway fans forum being staged tonight.   more...

TRAMPOLINING: Medal haul for Evolution

Evolution Trampoline Club started the new competition season in style in Taunton last weekend.   more...

ATHLETICS: Marathon man Mitchinson plotting his path to London

ALL roads lead to London as far as Dave Mitchinson is now concerned, writes KEVIN FAHEY.   more...

NETBALL: Lawn sides in fine form

LAWN enjoyed one of their best weekends of the netball season with a senior double at the weekend.   more...

FOOTBALL: Supermarine skipper fractures cheekbone

SWINDON Supermarine skipper Steve Davies will miss the rest of the season   more...

Adver winner set for French event

The Swindon Advertiser's Junior Sports Personality of the Year Louise Hunt is among four of Britain's leading juniors who have earned the right to contest the Cruyff Foundation Wheelchair Tennis Juniors Masters in France.   more...

The Wiltshire Gazette And Herald News

Footloose medic is brought to heel

DEVIZES chiropodist Julie Carter expressed huge relief that a disciplinary hearing has completely exonerated her of charges that she locked her former husband out of their shared practice in the town and deprived him of his patient records.   more...

MP says hospital fight over

DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram fears the fight to save the town's hospital from closure is over.   more...

Apprentice winner launches talent search

Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry was at New College Swindon today to launch a search for a hidden business talent.   more...

‘You have betrayed us’

MP Michael Ancram has condemned the decision by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to close community hospitals and cut beds saying it is a betrayal' of the interests of local people.   more...

Runaway car left a trail of destruction

A DRIVER left a trail of destruction after his car careered along a line of garden fences, scattering debris over two parked cars.   more...

Axe will fall on health jobs

JEFF James, chief executive of Wiltshire PCT, was unable to say how many staff would be made redundant as a result of hospital closures.   more...

MP takes time out for award winning group

DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram made a special visit to meet award-winning young people in Aldbourne.   more...

Boxing champions’ tribute

PAST and present boxing champions were the pall bearers at the funeral of Devizes man Bert Sanigar at St James' Church.   more...

A taxing time for the Inland Revenue

Four pickets stood outside the Inland Revenue building in Chippenham yesterday as part of a nationwide protest by civil servants.   more...

Councillors pledge to keep toilets

TOWN councillors in Chippenham have pledged to back the campaign not only to keep the existing public toilets, but to build more.   more...

Man dies 19 years after deadly dose

CHRONIC anorexic David Johnson died 19 years after taking an overdose of weedkiller and kettle descaler which left him prone to infections an inquest heard last Wednesday.   more...

No to ‘hen hutches’ at £250,000

DISTRICT councillors have agreed with residents' concerns and voted against a scheme for 25 flats in Marlborough.   more...

Playgroup asks for help to fund move

MANSION House Playgroup is appealing for help to complete a £100,000 fundraising project. The group needs to move premises because the building it uses is being sold.   more...

Fears over bus passes

PENSIONERS who get free bus travel are concerned North Wiltshire District Council has not set aside enough money for next year.   more...

Metro madness

CAR lover Steve Potter said he has had enough after vandals trashed his beloved Rover Metro 28 times since July.   more...

Purr-fect ending to tale of missing cats

WHEN Einstein the cat hitched a ride in his owner's van he set in train a perfect mystery tale.   more...

Reverend awarded medal

WOOTTON Bassett vicar Rev Thomas Woodhouse has been awarded a medal of service by the British Fire Services Association.   more...

Go-ahead for controversial bio fuel plant

PLANS for a large development of stables and a bio-diesel facility at Old Park Farm, near Wootton Bassett, were due to get the go-ahead from North Wiltshire District Council last night.   more...

Pupils try out Parkour moves

YOUNGSTERS at Priestley Primary School in Calne will be getting to grips with the art of Parkour at a special base jumping workshop on Tuesday.   more...

£6,000 for ambulance

A YEAR of fundraising by staff at the Defence Communications Service Agency and their partners BT, meant the Wiltshire Air Ambulance was able to fly in and receive a cheque for more than £6,000.   more...

Rowers battle boiling seas

ATLANTIC rowers Stu Turnbull and Ed Baylis have missed out on setting a new world record.   more...

Pub raiders escape with charity tin

THIEVES who struck at the Blue Lion pub in Collingbourne Ducis on Monday added an Air Ambulance Appeal collecting tin to their haul.   more...

Druids call for burial

DRUIDS are demanding the re-burial of a child's skeleton displayed in the stone circle museum in Avebury.   more...

Veteran bandsman dies

FORMER Kennet Valley bandsman Bob Watts has died in hospital just a few weeks before his 101st birthday.   more...

A timely challenge

A COMPETITION has been launched for young people to select the contents of a time capsule.   more...

Face to face with the history of portraits

AN exhibition at the Fox Talbot Museum in Lacock celebrates the history of the photographic portrait.   more...

Ex-firefighter backs call for chief to quit

CALLS have been made for the resignation of Wiltshire Fire Authority chairman Jerry Willmott over what is claimed to be a racist e-mail.   more...

Youths’ shame over drunken dance

DRUNKEN teenagers Stefan Pfefferle-Parker and Alexander Combe caused more than £1,000 damage by dancing on a car at a party in Little Bedwyn, a court heard.   more...

Consultant confident of rescue

THE award winning Farmer Unit that deals with elderly mentally ill patients at Savernake Hospital, Marlborough, might be saved.   more...

Doctor says hospital is ‘not viable’

DOCTOR Nick Brown says the loss of beds at Chippenham's hospital will make it unviable.   more...

Laid to rest in Africa

ONE week after friends had crowded into Pewsey parish church for a thanksgiving service for Eunice Balcombe, her funeral took place in her native Kenya.   more...

Church despair at vandalism

CHURCH WARDEN Stan Anniss says he is disgusted with vandals who destroyed a notice board outside Holy Trinity Church in Calne two days after it was repaired.   more...

Showcasing local produce

THE first Chippenham Winter Beer and Food Festival will be launched next month in a bid to support local rural farms and businesses.   more...

Residents object to respite care homes

RESIDENTS have objected to a plan to house young people with learning difficulties in their street.   more...

Plume of flames spark fourth alarm at hotel

STAFF and guests were evacuated from The Bear, Hotel in Devizes after the premises were again hit by fire.   more...

‘Scrap metal’ piece is rare Roman coin

A ROMAN coin buried in the depths of Malmesbury's Athelstan Museum has been unearthed.   more...

School trip cancelled

THE United Nations, which withheld funding to bring African children to Malmesbury because of the threat of terrorism, has now withdrawn from the scheme altogether.   more...

Child sex pest sent back to jail

CHILD sex pest Graham Parks has been jailed for 18 months for breaching an order imposed to prevent him having contact with young girls.   more...

First pancake races for town

TOWNSPEOPLE are urged to take part in the first organised pancake race in the Market Place, Devizes.   more...

Councillor cleared

North Wiltshire council leader Carol O'Gorman has been cleared of using the council's franking machine to send out invitations to opening of a friend's shop.   more...

The Wiltshire Gazette And Herald Sport

Devizes sign new striker

Devizes Town have signed striker Scott Griffin from Cirencester and he is set to play on Saturday against Radstock.   more...

Youth team into quarter finals

FA Youth Cup   more...

Wiltshire Times News

Couple buy Victorian tea room

AN AWARD-winning tea room in Bradford on Avon has been sold.   more...

Fox's cunning plan for new signs

A LANDLORD ordered to take down his pub signs because they had pictures on them instead of words has applied for planning permission to put new ones up.   more...

Council slammed over homes row

AN inquiry into how an authority handled a controversial housing development looks set to conclude it was guilty of maladministration.   more...

Farmer loses animal plan appeal

THE fight against foul smells coming from a farm near Bradford on Avon took another step forward this week as more complaints poured in about the stench from Fairfield Piggeries.   more...

Stonemason plans Angel rival

A STONEMASON is hoping his latest creation will be selected as a landmark to celebrate the 2012 Olympics in London.   more...

Horse sanctuary faces cash crisis

A SANCTUARY providing a home for old and abandoned horses could be forced to close unless more money is found to pay for their food and treatment.   more...

Wiltshire Times Sport

Perrin breaks his silence

DARREN Perrin has broken his three week long silence and revealed for the first time how he is coping with his continuing suspension from his job as manager of Chippenham Town.   more...

Bradford strengthen squad

BRADFORD Town's new co-managers Paul Ranger and Nigel Tripp have boosted their squad with two new signings.   more...

Biddestone snap up Penning

BIDDESTONE have signed utility player Phil Penning from Hellenic League outfit Pewsey Vale.   more...

Goal ace Glenn will not be rushed

CALNE Town goal ace Glenn Armstrong is refusing to be rushed into a decision on his future.   more...

  
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