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Wiltshire | Archive | 2001 | November

Stories for 1 November 2001

Amesbury News

Alcohol ban for under-21s

AN alcohol ban on under-21s has been introduced at three south Wiltshire shops in a bid to beat vandalism. more...

Jury clears suspect in murder case

GRANDFATHER Bryan Maloney walked free from Bristol Crown Court this week, after a jury found him not guilty of the murder of divorced mother-of-two Karen Chandler. more...

Flight legend is honoured at last

FLYING legend Wing Commander Roland Beamont has been awarded a top honour to commemorate his lifetime achievement as a pilot in years of peace and war. more...

Floodgate fears defeat shop bid

IN-EXCESS boss Carl Chambers has vowed to continue building up his Salisbury surplus store business - despite losing a planning appeal. more...

Josie's in a class of her own

JOSIE Adlard is top of her class this week after being named the country's best learning support assistant. more...

No shuttle bus for Christmas

THERE will be no subsidised Christmas shuttle bus this year in Salisbury because running it last year cost the District Council more than £15 per car. more...

Now park and ride heads for Wilton

WILTON has been lined up as the next park-and-ride site for commuters into and out of Salis-bury. more...

Teenagers' games led to £22,000 barn blaze

TWO teenaged girls destroyed a barn worth more than £22,000 after playing games with a cigarette lighter. more...

New £1 trolleys at Marks & Spencer

A SECOND city centre store has launched a coin deposit system to stop supermarket trolleys being abandoned. more...

Golden silver jubilee year for Playhouse

MORALE boosting financial performance was celebrated at Salisbury Playhouse this week after it was revealed the theatre was back in profit after a decade of recording losses. more...

Parking in district praised

CAR-PARKING in the Salisbury district is good and is set to get even better, according to an independent report published this week. more...

Business News

Alder King wins letting contract

A Swindon company has scored a major coup by being chosen as preferred agent for international office letting company Regus. more...

Very select company

Helping Select Appointments in Regent Street, Swindon, celebrate its 21st anniversary, recently was South Swindon MP Julia Drown. more...

Calne News

Swopping notes with PC from down under

AUSTRALIAN police officer Craig Atkins swapped fingerprint techniques with Acting Sergeant Richard Jones at Calne Police Station last week. more...

Fun is in store for toddlers

YOUNGSTERS at Derry Hill's Rub-a- Dub Pre-School have the Lottery to thank for the new outdoor play equipment they will soon be enjoying. more...

Army honour for volunteer

A CALNE civil servant has celebrated two decades with the Territorial Army in Lyneham by receiving the Lord Lieutenant's Certificate. more...

Residents furious over`death trap' pavement

RESIDENTS in Calne say uneven paving in the High Street is a death trap for elderly residents following a number of accidents in recent months. more...

Players pitch for humanity

CALNE Players used their performing skills to give passers-by their visual interpretation of One World Week. more...

No reindeer, just gold coach

CINDERELLA has stepped in after Calne's plans to bring reindeer to town for Christmas were cancelled because of foot and mouth concerns. more...

Chippenham News

Charity bid in the Big Apple

TWO Calne men are running the New York Marathon on Sunday. Between them they hope to raise more than £4,000 for two charities. more...

Cyclists cross Turkey for charity

GARDEN designer Honor Sturley flew out to Turkey on Sunday for an energy-sapping 375 km fundraising cycle ride. more...

Heroin found in search

TEENAGER Gary Naldi has been ordered to attend drug rehabilitation classes after pleading guilty to possession of heroin. more...

Firefighters use rope skills to rescue dogs

FIREFIGHTERS may be used to rescuing cats up trees and cows from slurry pits, but Chippenham firefighters' specialist skills have been called on to rescue two dogs which got themselves into perilous situations. more...

Voters mostly apathetic as council seats are filled

VOTERS went to the polls last week and elected new town councillors for Chippenham. more...

Fire heroes are praised by police

POLICE have praised the bravery of two men who ran into a blazing home in Lacock after they heard smoke alarms and saw flames upstairs. more...

Rage made man attack church door

AN 18-year-old Chippenham man has pleaded guilty to throwing white gloss paint over the main doors of the New Testament Pentecostal Church of God in Lowden. more...

Volunteers celebrate 21 years ofservice

THE Council for Voluntary Service North Wiltshire has come a long way since the days its meetings were held in a car. more...

Spy camera in clock catches a thief

THE owner of a Chippenham care home has used a CCTV camera hidden in a clock to catch a thief red-handed. more...

Great-grandmother dies after being struck by car

PENSIONER Doris Wightman was killed when she was hit by a car while out walking just yards from her Calstone home at the weekend. more...

Welcome win for the town

THE people of Chippenham have been rewarded for their welcoming ways for the second year running. more...

Stalwart of town law firm bows out

LEADING Chippenham solicitor and judge John Greenwood retired last week after nearly four decades with Forrester and Forrester. more...

Mum bitten in brawl after families feud

A FEUD between two Chippenham families resulted in one woman suffering bite marks to her breast, cheek and hands following a brawl in the street. more...

Fundraiser breaks target

A MAN with learning difficulties and epilepsy has collected more than £1,000 for charity. more...

Town's second anthrax alert

POLICE, fire brigade and environmental health officers in Chippenham were called out on Saturday after the second suspected anthrax scare in Cepen Park last week. more...

Leisure centre in the spotlight

A television film crew put staff and leisure users under the spotlight this week. more...

Devizes News

He's not guiltyJury clears farmworker of murdering popular mum of two

FARMWORKER Bryan Maloney walked free from Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday after a jury found him not guilty of the murder of divorced mother-of-two Karen Chandler. more...

Title gives driver a lift

HE may not be in the same league as Michael Schumacher or Colin McRae, but in his own way Duncan Sterling from Devizes is a champion in his own right. more...

Cadet centre helps resolve future of Le Marchant

THE way has been cleared for the redevelopment of Le Marchant Barracks in Devizes for housing after Kennet District Council approved a plan to build a new regional cadet centre on the site. more...

Town plans a seasonal fair

THE centre of Devizes will be turned into one enormous market on November 30 to mark the switching on of the town's Christmas lights. more...

Bungalows are to be demolished for plan

CRAMMER Court sheltered flats and ten bungalows behind them are to be demolished to make way for a new 50-unit development after Kennet councillors approved the scheme following a site visit yesterday afternoon. more...

Rallying pair glad to be home after gruelling 6,000 mile trek

ANDY Rugg and Pete Potter from Devizes are back home after a gruelling World Cup Rally trek which took them across Europe and north Africa. more...

Council told to hush the birdie

DEVIZES Town Council will have to limit itself to housing quiet birds in its planned new aviary at Hillworth Park after a ruling by Kennet District Council planning committee. more...

Pair step closer to exciting adventure

TWO 18-year-old students from the Devizes area are about to take on an exhausting stair-climb to raise money to send them on a scheme to aid communities in third world countries. more...

Bid for Merlin statue hailed as wizard idea

A GIANT statue of King Arthur's sorcerer Merlin could be built in Marlborough to commemorate the 800th anniversary of it receiving its royal charter. more...

Guides pack to be revived

GUIDES are being revived in Marlborough two years after the group folded because there were no adults to run it. more...

Artists put their work in the frame

PAINTINGS and drawings by about 15 artists from the Marlborough and Pewsey Vale areas were on show at the Milton Art Group's 18th annual exhibition at the weekend. more...

Town keeps its treasures safe

TOWN councillors at Marlborough have decided to play it safe over storage for council's priceless maces and other civic regalia including the mayoral chain currently worn by Coun David Watson. more...

The thrill Monty

IT was the moment they had spent four months rehearsing for, and when it finally came the intrepid 27 men dropped everything all in the name of charity. more...

Man makes record flightusing heliumballoons

MARLBOROUGH father-of-three Andy Stephens masterminded Sunday's world record breaking stunt when Ian Ashpole soared up to 11,000 feet, carried by 600 helium filled toy balloons. more...

Who did kill Karen Chandler?

THERE is no direct evidence linking Bryan Maloney to the murder of Karen Chandler. more...

School gets in giving spirit

PUPILS at Lavington School raised a phenomenal £1,077 for cancer charities at a major fund-raising day just before half term. more...

Vandals trash the new police centre

THE opening of the new police divisional headquarters at Hampton Park West in Melksham could be delayed after vandals caused more than £20,000 damage at the weekend. more...

Decision on Records Office site to be made

COUNTY councillors will decide on Tuesday November 6 whether the new Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office is to come to Devizes or one of three other towns considered in a report published this week. more...

Beat bobbies' new routine

A NEW system for policing the Devizes area has just been put into effect after proving successful in Salisbury. more...

Legend is a recipe for success

COOKERY legend Mary Berry was the star attraction at a Feast of Food held in Marlborough on Saturday in aid of the Prospect Hospice. more...

Presents pour in to make Christmas happy for children

URSULA McKinnon is up to her neck in shoe boxes, cuddly toys and knitted clothes and she is loving every minute of it. more...

It's a mad hair day

PUPILS at the Kennet Valley Federated School were able to let their hair down without fear of being told off by teachers when they all took part in a mad hair day to raise funds towards a new computer suite. more...

Farewell to Matron

RESIDENTS of the Brendoncare nursing home in Froxfield, near Marlborough, have said farewell to their matron Jenny Long who has retired after being in charge of the home since it opened 15 years ago. more...

Couple angry at TV paper chain

OPTICIANS Anne and Alan Cottage who have a practice in Marlborough had a surprise waiting for them when they inspected their brand new home in Chippenham...no fewer than four letters from TV Licensing. more...

Hospital did not act on death threats

AN inquiry has censured Green Lane Mental Hospital, in Devizes, for not warning a family their lives were at risk after a 43-year-old schizophrenic had made threats to kill them. more...

£750 The price of three lives

THE families of three death crash victims have spoken of their disgust after Army Major Giles Stibbe was fined just £750 for dangerous driving. more...

Farmer collects award for help during crisis

FARMER Sally Robinson has been honoured for her work in setting up a vital link to help young people during the foot and mouth crisis. more...

Groups' chance to bid for cash grants

THE deadline has been extended for groups bidding for grants from the Gazette's Community 2000 fund. more...

Appeal to support veterans and families

IN the next few weeks the familiar red poppies will go on sale, and the money raised will ensure the year-round work of the Royal British Legion can continue. LEWIS COWEN talks to legion branch members about the importance of the Poppy Appeal in Wiltshire more...

Korean combat, Army service and a son intent on serving too

WHEN Ramsay Penman lays a wreath on behalf of the Royal Artillery Association at the Devizes' Remembrance Sunday parade on November 11, he will undoubtedly remember his first taste of action at the Battle of the Hook in Korea in 1953. more...

Director forced to shelve movie

FILM director Christopher Miles could be forced to scrap a multi-million pound movie, due to be shot in Egypt, following the terrorist attacks on America. more...

New boss sees bright future for museum

WILTSHIRE Heritage Museum in Devizes is now considering different options for its future direction. more...

Adventure in rural outback

MORE than 30 years ago Wiltshire Education Authority decided to make use of the former village school at Oxenwood as an outdoor activities centre for school children from the county. more...

Playgroup told cars come before pupils

TINY tots at a Box pre-school playgroup have been told they cannot have anywhere to play because cars come first. more...

Community service order given to internet offender

PILLAR of the community Brian Gill led a secret life in which he ogled pictures of naked children downloaded via computer, a court heard. more...

Devizes,Calne,Chippenham,Marlborough,Highworth,Corsham,Malmesbury,Wootton Bassett News

Don't forget both families

AMID the hysteria over the Bristol Crown Court jury's decision to find Bryan Maloney not guilty of the murder of Karen Chandler, it is easy to forget the plight of the families who have endured 16 months of trauma. more...

Where is the justice?

A £750 fine for three young lives snuffed out in an horrific car crash. How can that be justice? more...

Devizes,Calne,Marlborough,Highworth,Chippenham,Corsham,Malmesbury,Wootton Bassett News

We should be positive about plans for future

OH what doom and gloom in Devizes. Trees, traffic, taxis. Is the town not able to be positive about anything? more...

CJD hypothesis has serious flaws

IT was with some dismay we read Alan Wood's uninformed letter in last week's Gazette. more...

Stop monkeying with our town

AM I alone in thinking that an errant troupe of monkeys is in charge of redesigning our Market Place? more...

Happy to be proved wrong

WITH reference to my letter of last week, I am very pleased to hear that Kennet District Council is not trying to shed its responsibility for providing litter bins in Devizes, and that in fact it is providing more. more...

Council is helpful

OVER the last two years Devizes Forty Acres and Eastleigh Area Community Group has worked tirelessly to improve the area we live in. more...

Recycling poser

WHILE I agree that garden waste should be recycled I fail to see how a charge of 60p a bag is going to encourage people to set aside recyclable material, since most people I have spoken to intend to add it to their usual household waste, thus making it impossible to separate. more...

A forgotten war

THE leader and appeal on page 32 of last week's Gazette and Herald confirms that the Korean war is indeed a "forgotten war." more...

Use horse sense

I would like to draw readers' attention to the ever-increasing danger to horse riders on the roads owing to ignorance of motorists. more...

Support needed

AS a local councillor I have observed with interest Devizes residents exercising their democratic right to protest. more...

Taking the wrong path over route

Councillor Jane Scott has rather missed the point in her letter regarding the footpath between Clarence Road and Turpin Way, as indeed has the proposed route itself. more...

Highworth News

This damage must stop...

RESIDENTS in Highworth are demanding action over Co-op delivery vehicles they claim are damaging their property. more...

Police keeping a record of youth crime

HIGHWORTH police have set up a logbook of complaints about troublesome youths. more...

Two civilians to join Highworth police

HIGHWORTH police station will be joined by two part-time civilian mobile enquiry officers from Monday, November 5. more...

Haunted house

FLICKERING lights, mysterious shadows and sudden drops in temperature in a Highworth pub occur not only at Halloween. more...

Malmesbury News

Cider making is a family affair

OWNERS of a rejuvenated vineyard and orchard near Sherston want everyone to reap the benefits of their harvest. more...

Garage to close, but service to continue

MALMESBURY'S Athelstan Garage will close its doors for the last time in January, to the disappointment of many townspeople. more...

Villagers take a stand on crime

CORSTON'S Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Richard Cooper said villagers must form their own crime prevention groups after a spate of burglaries and vandalism. more...

War memorial is ready for Remembrance Day

FAMILIES of servicemen killed in action will be able to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony at Malmesbury War Memorial after all. more...

Even a score of 27-0 fails to daunt women footballers

MALMESBURY'S first women's football team conceded 36 goals in their first two games but the side's co-managers say things can only get better. more...

Silver goes in another raid

MALMESBURY police are appealing for witnesses after £18,500 of jewellery, antique silverware and antique furniture was stolen from a Hullavington home on Tuesday. more...

All world's a stage for kids

PUPILS at Malmesbury Primary School supplemented lessons on Shakespeare by recreating London's Globe Theatre . more...

Charity is among the oldest in the region

FUNDHOLDERS at one of the oldest charities in Malmesbury were surprised when they received a letter through the post saying it was one of the ten oldest in Wales and the West Country. more...

Deadline for views on plan

TOWN councillors and public groups in Malmesbury have a month to have their say in the final draft of the town's community development plan. more...

Music producer joins concert for Rwandans

RECORD producer Dave Bankhead is to perform in front of thousands of Rwandans in two four-hour concerts of peace. more...

Pair sprint in with the cash

FITNESS trainers Ricky Bulzis and Andy Foster raised £500 for charity by running the Bristol Half Marathon. more...

College ready for switch-on

JOHN Bowen, the Mayor of Malmesbury, will officially open a new IT suite and college in the town on Thursday. more...

Marlborough News

Close squeak as mouse is trapped

THERE was no Tom cat chasing Jerry the mouse when its head got stuck in a children's game in what could have been a scene from the TV cartoon. more...

Culling of the town's pigeons is an option

THE fast growing flock of pigeons in Marlborough could be facing extermination as town councillors promise to take a new look at the problem. more...

Mother goes into hiding

A HIGH Court judge has appealed for the public's help to find a mother who has disappeared with her four-year old daughter after being ordered to hand the child over to her French father. more...

Town stalwart made Freeman

John "Jake" Seamer, 88, has been nominated this week as an honorary Freeman of Marlborough. more...

Public is barred from council session

MARLBOROUGH town council went into another secret session on Monday to discuss the nomination of former member John "Jake" Seamer as the first-ever Freeman Of The Town. more...

New crossings are to be built

TWO new pedestrian crossings will be installed in Marlborough's Bath Road and London Road before the end of the financial year. more...

Cuppas raise cash for kids

FUNDRAISING for Children in Need was kicked-off in Marlborough with a coffee morning organised by Lyn Whatley at her home in High Street in Manton on Saturday. more...

Queen is to be invited to charter celebration

MARLBOROUGH is to invite the Queen to attend the town's 800th anniversary celebrations in three year's time and the council say no other member of the royal family will do. more...

999 confusion fears on luxury flats' name

TOWN councillors in Marlborough fear emergency services could be misdirected because of confusion caused by the new name of the former Portman site in the High Street. more...

Memories of Coronation

NEWLY restored Coronation memorials have been handed over to the Mayor of Marlborough, Coun David Watson this week. more...

All not settled over pub name

The Royal Mail is objecting to plans to preserve the name of a former pub in the flats it has converted. more...

Council vetoes a bright idea

Marlborough town councillors have voted to keep using the brightly coloured paper on which agendas are printed. more...

Pewsey News

Tough times behind bars

YEAR eight students at Pewsey Vale School have been getting a taste of how tough life can be behind bars as part of a new law and order project. more...

Salisbury News

Now park and ride heads for Wilton

WILTON has been lined up as the next park-and-ride site for commuters into and out of Salis-bury. more...

Floodgate fears defeat shop bid

IN-EXCESS boss Carl Chambers has vowed to continue building up his Salisbury surplus store business - despite losing a planning appeal. more...

Josie's in a class of her own

JOSIE Adlard is top of her class this week after being named the country's best learning support assistant. more...

No shuttle bus for Christmas

THERE will be no subsidised Christmas shuttle bus this year in Salisbury because running it last year cost the District Council more than £15 per car. more...

Flight legend is honoured at last

FLYING legend Wing Commander Roland Beamont has been awarded a top honour to commemorate his lifetime achievement as a pilot in years of peace and war. more...

Protesters' momentum `building'

PARENTS calling for a pelican crossing on Devizes Road have promised that their demonstrations will continue. more...

Teenagers' games led to £22,000 barn blaze

TWO teenaged girls destroyed a barn worth more than £22,000 after playing games with a cigarette lighter. more...

New £1 trolleys at Marks & Spencer

A SECOND city centre store has launched a coin deposit system to stop supermarket trolleys being abandoned. more...

Golden silver jubilee year for Playhouse

MORALE boosting financial performance was celebrated at Salisbury Playhouse this week after it was revealed the theatre was back in profit after a decade of recording losses. more...

Parking in district praised

CAR-PARKING in the Salisbury district is good and is set to get even better, according to an independent report published this week. more...

Farewell to Sister Wendy

AFTER 39 years in nursing, Sister Wendy Bull has retired for a more relaxing lifestyle. more...

Salisbury Sport

Relief all round as Whites win at last

UNDER pressure Salisbury City player-manager Steve Richardson is hoping Saturday's slender 1-0 victory over Hednesford Town is the result that finally sparks his side's revival in their bid to avoid relegation. more...

Sport Angling

Carp provide fine sport at Lavington

CARP fed ravenously in the Lavington match at Merritts Lake. more...

Sport Football

Chalky in line for hot seat

The race for the Supermarine hot-seat rages on, but it appears that there are only two runners left in the field. more...

Success in shield

Swindon Supermarine 2, Salisbury City 1 more...

Hughes injury blow for Marine

Swindon Supermarine have received another blow to their troublesome campaign with the prolonged loss of midfielder Kenny Hughes. more...

Boss resigns after seven-goal horror

PAUL Rankin has taken full control of team matters at Calne Town after their 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Hallen on Saturday prompted co-manager Steve Hale to quit the club. more...

New little Saint must not slip up at school

CHIPPENHAM schoolboy Tyrone Mings has taken a big step towards his dream of a professional career by signing a contract with Premiership outfit Southampton at the age of just eight. more...

Dereks' comeback

FORMER Devizes Town defender Derek Whittingham will return to the town for the first time in 44 years this weekend to watch his former club take on Bristol Manor Farm. more...

It's lighting-up time at The Southbank

CORSHAM Town will lift the curtain on a new era in their 108-year history when they officially unveil their new floodlights at The Southbank tomorrow night. more...

Youngsters see off the challenge of rivals

YOUTH FOOTBALL: CHIPPENHAM Town saw off the challenge of Trowbridge Town in the under 12s division of the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League with a 4-1 win. more...

Pewsey Vale 4, Cirencester Academy 1 (aet)

CHERRY RECORDS HELLENIC LEAGUE: PEWSEY Vale bounced back from their 6-1 league drubbing at the hands of Ardley last week to record an impressive win over Premier Division outfit Cirencester Academy RPM Records Hellenic Supplementary Cup on Saturday. more...

Wootton Bassett Town 2, Yate Town 9

WOOTTON Bassett Town crashed out of the Complete Music Challenge Cup as they were overwhelmed by Premier Division rivals Yate Town in this second round clash. more...

Gresley Rovers 2, Chippenham Town 2

DR MARTENS LEAGUE: A GOAL eight minutes from time denied Chippenham Town the chance to move into the Dr Martens Western Division top spot for the first time in the clash of the league's two form sides at the Moat Ground on Saturday October 27. more...

Clubs make views known on change

SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: THE Screwfix Direct Western League have received a number of completed questionnaires from clubs on the controversial FA plans for the restructuring of the national league system. more...

Bridport 0, Devizes Town 5

FIVE second half goals helped Devizes Town bounce back from last week's disappointing FA Vase exit. more...

Dawlish Town 1, Melksham Town 1

AN injury time goal from skipper Steve Seals helped Melksham Town become the first team to emerge with a point from Dawlish Town's Sandy Lane home this season on Saturday October 27. more...

Westbury United 0, Team Bath 1

WESTBURY United are still in need of some luck after yet another narrow defeat at the hands of one of the Premier Division's fancied sides. more...

Warminster Town 1, Corsham Town 2

SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CORSHAM Town completed a quick First Division double over their Wiltshire rivals thanks to two strikes from midfielder Andy Wicks at Weymouth Street on Saturday October 27. more...

Hallen 7, Calne Town 0

INJURY-hit Calne Town were torn apart by a rampant Hallen side as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the campaign at Moorhouse Lane on Saturday October 27. more...

Your chance to be a football coach

THE Wiltshire County Football Association in conjunction with New College of Swindon invites applications from those interested in obtaining the 1st4sport Football Association Coaching Certificate. more...

Leaders hit Sherston with five goal blitz

SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: BLUNSDON United took over the leadership of the Intermediate Division after their 5-0 away victory over Sherston. more...

FROM THE DUGOUT by Brian Newlands, Devizes Town manager

01/11/01: IT'S been interesting over the last week hearing about and reading of the FA's proposed changes to the pyramid system. more...

Town duo join county squad

CHIPPENHAM Town youngsters Jason Walsh and James Highmore have been added to the Wiltshire under 18 squad for the FA County Youth Cup second round clash with The Army at Melksham Town on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm. more...

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE ROUND UP

BIDDESTONE Social Club completed one of the shock of the first round of the Rainbow Launderette sponsored WG Parr Trophy. more...

Relief all round as Whites win at last

Sport Rugby

Wootton Bassett 23, Cooper-Avon Tyres 12

WOOTTON Bassett emerged as comfortable winners in this Southern Counties South league match at Stoneover Lane. more...

Minety 7, Calne 24

FIRST half mistakes cost Minety dear as they lose at home to rivals Calne in this fiercely competitive Dorset and Wiltshire Division One league match. more...

Minety 2nds 44, Calne 2nds 27

CALNE battled hard with 14 men against a full strength Minety XV to lead 18-15 at half-time. more...

Cirencester 2nds 26, Malmesbury 14

MALMESBURY slipped to defeat for the second week in succession as Cirencester's second string eased to victory at The Whiteway on Saturday October 27. more...

Swindon College Old Boys 22, Devizes 27

AFTER a closely fought contest Devizes Saddlebacks were relieved to record a second league win at Nationwide Sports Ground, Swindon. more...

Chippenham 38, Stow-on-the-Wold 12

A CONVINCING first half performance saw Chippenham cement their place at the top of South West Division Two East. more...

Marlborough 13, Cricklade 22

MARLBOROUGH slipped to defeat in their first home game of the season on Saturday October 27. more...

Aldbourne under 14s 5, Melksham-Devizes under 14s 25

THE Melksham and Devizes combined side marked their first competitive game since their formation with a win. more...

Corsham 10, Wimborne 20

WIMBORNE'S fifth win in succession, a 20-10 triumph at Corsham, took them to the top of South Counties South. more...

Another defeat as Salisbury waste chances

SALISBURY returned from their trip to Northamptonshire empty-handed after suffering a disappointing 19-13 defeat by Olney. more...

England axe falls on Bath ace Balshaw

BATH'S Iain Balshaw has been dropped from England's 26-man squad to tackle world champions Australia a week on Saturday. more...

Callard waiting on injured pair

PROP John Mallett and centre Mike Tindall are the main injury worries as Bath prepare to put one foot in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. more...

Stfc Sport

Give youth a chance

THE old saying `if you're good enough, you're old enough' is starting to ring true at the County Ground. more...

Cup magic

SO now we know the first stop on the road to Cardiff. more...

Bet he has an off day

TOWN skipper Alan Reeves has revealed that Steve Robinson's altercation with Richard Walker at Wycombe did not displease a certain section of the Wanderers faithful. more...

It's time for a change, Mr Gallagher

EVERYONE else has rattled on about this so I feel I must join in. more...

Don't lead us on mate

YOU may have noticed that my plea for no further television appearances went unheeded. Our home game with Bristol City has been switched to Sunday, January 13. more...

Pop star Danny

IT seems that Danny Invincible's exploits this season have attracted the attention of one of the world's most successful pop stars. Locked away in his Never Never Land palace, Jacko has clearly been tuning in to Nationwide Football and is hooked on the antics of Roy Evans and his boys. more...

At the double

TWO interesting pieces of news involving Gazza this week. Sources at Goodison Park seem to suggest that the former England star is to join Miami Fusion. That could mean a link up with ex-Town midfielder Ian Woan. more...

Swindon News

This lot couldn't run a whelk stall!

AS a lifelong avid reader of your newspaper, I cannot recall a time when your columns carried such a continuous catalogue of depressing news. more...

The cost of war

ONLY two weeks into the war and we are hearing reports of America bombing a hospital and two Red Cross warehouses by mistake. more...

Missing money

ANDY Harrison (Letters, October 22) is quite wrong to suggest that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats combined to push through a budget in March which led to a shortfall in education spending. more...

Park politics

REGARDING Shirley Mathias' article on skateboard parks (EA, October 19), a parish poll was held because Stratton Parish Council forced residents into it. This decision for a poll was only after much debate and by considerably more than the 10 people Shirley suggests. A packed hall, in fact. more...

Ideas, please

DOES Andy Harrison (Letters, October 22) know that Swindon's leisure centres (including the Oasis and the Link) cost the people of Swindon £3 million a year in subsidy? How many of us would rather see the money spent on our schools? more...

And on the subject of the 15 per cent tax rise...

I SEE that Nick Martin, our new finance director on the council, has suggested that a rise of 15 per cent on the council tax would be in order. With the council elections coming up in May, I can only presume the new Conservative administration running the council is hell-bent on committing political suicide. more...

Being disingenuous

IN her article of October 19, Shirley Mathias contrasts the Conservative proposal of a 5.5 per cent Council Tax increase last March with the figure of 15 per cent mentioned recently by Councillor Nick Martin. more...

Anything but muddled

YOUR lead story of Tuesday, October 16 ("Taxpayers facing a 15 per cent increase"), contains two inaccurate and misleading statements: one that the council's finances are `muddled' and the quote from Coun Nick Martin that the council `has been living beyond its means'. more...

Map reveals village history

A PROJECT to map out the village of Ashton Keynes as it looked over a century ago has been completed. more...

Facing up to a delightful fright on Halloween

WITCHES hats and vampire fangs could be spotted all over Swindon as Halloween arrived in style. more...

Nurses, we need you!

PRINCESS Margaret Hospital held a special open day to woo highly trained intensive care nurses to Swindon. more...

Public to be asked views on A419 road

THE Highways Agency will hold a public consultation into proposed improvements to the A419. more...

Yoga classes can help your pregnancy

YOGA classes are set to bring a feeling of well-being and relaxation to pregnant women. more...

Rewarding moments

Young people often get a bad press, but many carry out good works without recognition. More than 50 people were rewarded for their good work in Wiltshire as part of National Youth Work Week. BARRIE HUDSON reports. more...

Art preserves the memory of Carol in the Prospect Hospice

THE memory of the late Carol Alexander will live on in the hospice where she died, thanks to her twin brother. more...

Village will be lit up for Christmas

WHILE Swindon struggles to find the money for Christmas lights and festivities, Wroughton is steaming ahead. more...

On the scent of thieves...

THIEVES stole £85,000 worth of perfume from a Dutch articulated lorry in Wiltshire. more...

October is the mildest on record

RECORD high autumn temperatures mean that little Marie Philippe has had to wait longer than usual to enjoy crunching through the fallen leaves. more...

Abbey Meads to get another 250 houses

PLANS to build another huge housing estate at Abbey Meads have been rubber-stamped by councillors. more...

Gardening guru leaves the potting shed to take up the pencil

TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh delighted staff at a Swindon store when he arrived to sign copies of his latest novel. more...

Man claims £350,000 from former company

THE former chief executive of the Cirencester-based Milk Development Council is claiming up to £350,000 from his previous employers. more...

Curry spices up charity

A FUNDRAISING curry night at Old Town's Biplob restaurant raised £1,737 for charity. more...

Golden Blue is a winner

IT might seem like a shaggy dog story, but Blue's transformation from pound puppy to show dog is no fairytale. more...

MP highlights new benefit scheme

PENSIONERS in Swindon failing to claim their benefits because of complicated application forms are being urged to try out the latest process. more...

MP highlights new benefit scheme

OLD TOWN councillors have criticised plans to redevelop the site of the empty Fads store in Devizes Road. more...

Prepare for winter

Age Concern is working with Powergen to try to stem the 2,000 deaths of people over 65 that take place in the South West during the winter months. more...

Healing hands

FEATURE: More people than ever visit chiropractors complaining of a stiff neck or sore back. Pensioner Beryl Barton, who was suffering from crippling dizzy spells, was dubious. But, as BEN FITZGERALD reports, her life has been transformed. more...

Kindly act eases trauma

SECURITY boss Andrew Broadfoot was so moved when he saw an Advertiser story about an elderly crime victim that he decided to help her. more...

Court told of forklift fraud

Conman Andrew Carter has been warned he could face jail after stealing two forklift trucks worth thousands of pounds from hire companies. more...

Teachers welcome court ruling

A UNION leader in Swindon believes a landmark court ruling allowing teachers to use physical force against unruly pupils will help beat violence in the classroom. more...

Cut it out!

TODAY the Evening Advertiser reveals how a number of Swindon shops are flouting the law and selling blades to minors. more...

Kick lands van driver in trouble

TRANSIT van driver Shaun Horwood kicked a moped rider between the legs in a roadside dispute only to find the rider was aged 74, disabled and had already suffered three heart attacks. more...

New concept in art

ARTISTS Tim Carroll and Gordon Dickinson are taking their work to the public by dispensing it from a converted pub condom machine. more...

Slowdown in house prices

NATIONWIDE Building Society today urged people not to panic over the state of the housing market. more...

40 new jobs as pub gets facelift

UP to 40 new jobs will be created at a Swindon pub when it reopens following a refurbishment. more...

Scouts prepared to put bonfire night back a week

FIREWORK night has been postponed for Swindon Scouts. more...

Children ready for thrilling ride

AN ADVENTURE playground in Eldene has been given a new lease of life following its destruction by an arson attack in June. more...

Governor vacancies are filled at schools

A CAMPAIGN to combat a shortage of school governors in Swindon has been labelled a success despite more than 100 positions still needing to be filled. more...

Singer's bad break keeps him off stage

ONE of the leading lights of a Swindon choir has had to pull out of a show because he broke his ankle in six places. more...

Stores must take knives seriously

IT is bad enough that some shops are still breaking the law banning the sale of knives to minors in spite of the hard work trading standards staff have done to curb such offences. more...

Watchful eyes are wanted

FOUR months after the wanton destruction of equipment at the Richard Jefferies playground by a wrecker with a box of matches, it's good to know it has a new aerial runway. more...

Wiltshire News

He's not guilty

FARMWORKER Bryan Maloney walked free from Bristol Crown Court after a jury found him not guilty of the murder of divorced mother-of-two Karen Chandler. more...

Wiltshire Sport

Give youth a chance

THE old saying `if you're good enough, you're old enough' is starting to ring true at the County Ground. more...

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