Wiltshire | Archive | 2001 | May

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Stories for 10 May 2001

Amesbury News

Jon takes a dim view of flats next door

THE view from a Durrington man's home is being ruined by flats that are being built next door.   more...

Crackdown on teenage vandals

PARENTS of youths who hang around in gangs are to be spoken to by police in a bid to combat the rising wave of vandalism and under-age drinking in Amesbury.   more...

Warm welcome for town's new mayor

AMESBURY Town Council paid tribute to departing mayor Richard Crook as he handed over the chain of office to successor Major John Turner.   more...

Bus strike rolls on as stalemate looms

THE Amesbury district is braced for a second 24-hour strike by staff at Wilts & Dorset bus company.   more...

Funding blow to tourism

TOURISM bosses have attacked the Government for not properly funding the industry.   more...

Running up a total on long journey home

AFTER spending over a month helping combat the foot-and-mouth epidemic in the Welsh borders, soldiers from 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, have been overwhelmed by the support they have received for a sponsored run from Gloucester to their home barracks in Tidworth.   more...

School is top for business

PUPILS from Upper Avon School, Durrington, were jubilant after being declared top of the class in a south Wiltshire young enterprise competition.   more...

Kennet says no to mayor

THE idea of having a directly elected mayor in Kennet has been rejected by residents.   more...

Forces radio broadcasts in Gurkhali

THE Forces Radio Station based at Bulford, which broadcasts 24 hours a day on 1287 MW, has started a new service - in Gurkhali.   more...

Award for community officer

SGT Paul Oatway of the Wiltshire Constabulary stationed in Tidworth has been awarded the High Sheriff of Wiltshire's Award for outstanding work in the community.   more...

Business News

Record profits for Westbury

Housebuilder Westbury plc, which has two major projects in Swindon, has announced record profits of £63.7 million for the last financial year, up 19 per cent on last year's figure of £53.6 million.   more...

Association keeps it local

WESTLEA Housing Association is putting more than £10 million of work the way of local firms.   more...

A crafty conversion

A VERY different kind of farm diversification was unveiled by Devizes MP Michael Ancram on Friday when he opened a new arts and crafts gallery in a rural location.   more...

Top praise for export effort

TRADE Minister Richard Caborn visited Corsham this week to congratulate a small firm on its big success in the tough food export market.   more...

Calne News

Table set for liquid lunch

A DINING table complete with chairs was among a skip-full of rubbish fished from the River Marden in Calne by a team of volunteers.   more...

Delight as blighted estate to be rebuilt

DEVELOPERS have been given the go-ahead to build 54 new houses on a Calne estate dubbed a mini-Beirut by worried residents last year.   more...

Student saves 14 in fishing boat disaster

STUDENT Amy Campbell-Golding has told how desperate families pleaded with her to resuscitate their relatives after she and three friends saved 14 people from drowning off the coast of India.   more...

Chip shop damaged as frying vat catches fire

A FISH and chip shop in Calne was damaged after flames ripped through the ground floor.   more...

Family's work at church ends

A FAMILY'S service to the community over nearly 60 years came to an end when Tony Gardener retired as churchwarden at All Saints Church, Sutton Benger.   more...

Warning over rural business

RUTH Coleman, the deputy leader of North Wiltshire District Council, has warned that rural villages risk becoming dormitories for people working in towns.   more...

Churches in big clean-up

CHURCHES from across the Chippenham and Calne area joined forces over the Bank Holiday weekend to carry out a host of activities to benefit the community.   more...

Mini cars honour at driver's funeral

MORE than one hundred grieving family members and friends gathered at a funeral service on Friday, May 4 to mourn the death of young driver Gavin Gillam.   more...

Kids' guide launched

A CHILDREN'S directory aimed at the parents of under 11s also carries drugs advice.   more...

Chippenham News

Spice Girls fan is Mel pleased

TEENAGER Lindsey Hockin had a dream come true when she met her pop idol Mel C on Tuesday May 8.   more...

Spice Girls fan is Mel pleased

TEENAGER Lindsey Hockin had a dream come true when she met her pop idol Mel C on Tuesday May 8.   more...

Unique view of artist's travels

TRAVELS to Brittany, Prague and Edinburgh have inspired the unique artwork of Linda O'Gorman, who opened a new exhibition in Chippenham's Citadel Gallery on Tuesday, May 8.   more...

Two town stalwarts share in civic award

The Chippenham Town Council Civic Award will be presented to two men this year to recognise their sterling work for the community.   more...

Police launch arson probe after four fires

POLICE have launched an arson investigation after four separate fires caused damage of more than £1,000 in a 24 hour period in Chippenham at the weekend.   more...

County music boss sacked

ANTHONY Briggs, the head of Wiltshire's school music service, has been sacked by Wiltshire County Council after an investigation into his appointment.   more...

Pupils dance in the spring

YOUNGSTERS celebrated the arrival of spring with a day of maypole and country dancing in Chippenham High Street.   more...

Students get animated about communication

STUDENTS in Chippenham hope the animated 3-D film they are making will help teach people about the importance of communication.   more...

Chief salutes police specials

WILTSHIRE'S Chief Constable Elizabeth Neville paid tribute to nearly 10,000 hours of voluntary policing at a parade of special constables.   more...

Gardeners' nursery time

GARDENING enthusiasts can stock up on their favourite plants or track down unusual species at a spring plant fair at Lacock Abbey on Sunday.   more...

Parade start is hit by virus

CHIPPENHAM Carnival is the latest event to be hit by the foot and mouth outbreak.   more...

Quackers face rapids as they pool effort

A DUCK race traditionally held outdoors, has been transferred to the Olympiad swimming pool this year, because of foot and mouth.   more...

Warning over rural business

RUTH Coleman, the deputy leader of North Wiltshire District Council, has warned that rural villages risk becoming dormitories for people working in towns.   more...

Operation follows an appeal for kidney

PAUL Tinson, whose one functioning kidney is under immense strain, has undergone an operation to use a different type of dialysis treatment so he has more free time.   more...

Association keeps it local

WESTLEA Housing Association is putting more than £10 million of work the way of local firms.   more...

Churches in big clean-up

CHURCHES from across the Chippenham area joined forces over the Bank Holiday weekend to carry out a host of activities to benefit the community.   more...

Tributes to special teacher who sparkled

THE parents of young teacher Joanne Tanner, who was killed in a skiing accident in France three weeks ago, are going to a special ceremony in Guernsey where their daughter taught.   more...

Mini cars honour at driver's funeral

MORE than one hundred grieving family members and friends gathered at a funeral service on Friday to mourn the death of young driver Gavin Gillam.   more...

Teen chefs to fry their best in big cook-off

TWO aspiring chefs from Hardenhuish School in Chippenham will don their cooking aprons and prepare to cook their way to the final of a national culinary contest this weekend.   more...

Gardeners' nursery time

GARDENING enthusiasts can stock up on their favourite plants or track down unusual species at a spring plant fair at Lacock Abbey on Sunday, May 13.   more...

Mini cars honour at driver's funeral

MORE than one hundred grieving family members and friends gathered at a funeral service on Friday to mourn the death of young driver Gavin Gillam.   more...

Land gets go-ahead for sports facilities

MORE than 47 acres land near Chippenham have been the go-ahead by planning bosses to be turned into new playing fields for the town.   more...

Parade marks 80 years of branch

THE Royal British Legion branch at Colerne formed in 1921, is preparing to celebrate its 80th anniversary with a rededication parade and service.   more...

Churches in big clean-up

CHURCHES from across the Chippenham area joined forces over the Bank Holiday weekend to carry out a host of activities to benefit the community.   more...

Second cat shot by air pistol on estate

POLICE have warned that shooting cats with an airgun is a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment.   more...

Corsham News

Top praise for export effort

TRADE Minister Richard Caborn visited Corsham this week to congratulate a small firm on its big success in the tough food export market.   more...

Dad gets on his bike to fight bug

A FATHER whose son contracted meningitis has been riding a moped the length of the country to raise cash for research into the virus.   more...

Battling mum creates her own triathlon

ATHLETE Debbie Neal, who wanted to take part in a gruelling triathlon to raise money for research into a rare illness, refused to give up when the event was cancelled because of the foot and mouth outbreak.   more...

Devizes News

Publican's plan for gym fitness centre

BUSINESSMAN Bill Montgomery wants to spend £150,000 transforming an old engineering factory into an ultra modern gym and fitness centre.   more...

Laid back fundraiser proves no pushover

WALKERS who took part in a sponsored 20-mile bed push in the Devizes area were nursing sore feet the next day.   more...

Kids follow in runner's steps

YOUNGSTERS at Rowde Primary School met London Marathon runner and former pupil Adrian Knapp and did their own mini marathon.   more...

£2 million cash boost for crumbling roads

SOME of the worst cracked, potholed and rutted roads in the Kennet district are finally to be repaired with £2 million of Government cash.   more...

Twenty sign up to adopt farm's calves

MORE than 20 people have agreed to adopt calves belonging to farmers John and Theresa Chandler to save them from slaughter.   more...

Rowdeford School: Top marks for big improvements

ROWDEFORD School has improved beyond recognition since being judged to have been failing five years ago, according to inspectors from Ofsted.   more...

Rowdeford School: Gym needs fixing when cash allows

THE lack of facilities for gymnastics and indoor sport at Rowdeford School is highlighted in the Ofsted report.   more...

Limit puts speeding drivers on the carpet

THE village of Everleigh has been given the red carpet treatment by Wiltshire County Council.   more...

Holding out hand of hope

A COFFEE morning in Aldbourne has raised £340 and raised awareness of the village-based charity, the Zaslowya Project, which helps young people in Belarus, in the former USSR.   more...

Pensioner targeted second time by thieves

PENSIONER Walter Burt of West Lavington, has been targeted for a second time by thieves.   more...

Wife's bedside vigil after horrific crash

NEWLY married Zoe Stiles is keeping a vigil by the bedside of her husband, Stephen, who was critically injured in a road accident.   more...

Repair job a big feat

WHEN you are clowning around it is imperative that your footwear is not going to let you down.   more...

Gloves off in election fight

KENNET election officers are girding themselves for a gruelling few hours on election night, June 7, as they count not only the votes in the Devizes constituency parliamentary election but the seven Kennet wards in the county council elections.   more...

Council's music boss sacked

ANTHONY Briggs, the head of Wiltshire's music service, has been sacked by Wiltshire County Council after an investigation into his appointment.   more...

More costly work on Cross

URGENT work to examine and repair Devizes' Market Cross could cost up to £10,000 more than expected.   more...

Scheme to hook shops is close to completion

KENNET councillors are meeting with developers next week to finalise details of a deal to redevelop the area known as the North Gate in Devizes.   more...

Reservations over opening of reserve

DEVIZES Town Council has agreed its woodland at Leipzig Plantation, on Roundway Down, should remain closed because of the foot and mouth outbreak.   more...

Partner sees wed at shave

SARAH Brown got more than she bargained for when she had her head shaved ­ her partner proposed on the spot.   more...

Profitable date for hospital appeal

BATH'S Royal United Hospital was given an unexpected cash boost last week.   more...

How you can stay healthy by not going to the gym

GETTING to grips with the garden, vacuuming your home or just taking a brisk walk with your dog could be the first steps you take to safeguard your health.   more...

Disgraced consultant had huge workload say bosses

DR JAMES Elwood, the elderly consultant who misdiagnosed more than 200 tissue samples, was forced to work with outdated equipment and under an intolerable workload at Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, a newly-published report concludes.   more...

Trees are the national star

WESTONBIRT Arboretum has been made the country's national arboretum.   more...

Foot and mouth: Smell hell

A WOMAN made physically sick by the stench from a landfill site being used to dispose of animal carcasses has demanded to know when her life will get back to normal.   more...

Foot and mouth: Scare does not put off crowds of visitors

BANK Holiday Monday saw more than 3,000 people visit Bowood House and Gardens to take the total over the weekend to above 5,500 as visitors were not put off following a foot and mouth scare last week.   more...

Foot and mouth: Twenty sign up to adopt farm's calves

MORE than 20 people have agreed to adopt calves belonging to farmers John and Theresa Chandler to save them from slaughter.   more...

Second cat shot by air pistol on estate

POLICE have warned that shooting cats with an airgun is a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment.   more...

Dad gets on his bike to fight bug

A FATHER whose son contracted meningitis has been riding a moped the length of the country to raise cash for research into the virus.   more...

Kids' guide launched

A CHILDREN'S directory aimed at the parents of under 11s also carries drugs advice.   more...

Where there's a will...

In the run-up to National Will Week wildlife lovers are being urged 0to leave a legacy to the county's wild places.   more...

Battling mum creates her own triathlon

ATHLETE Debbie Neal, who wanted to take part in a gruelling triathlon to raise money for research into a rare illness, refused to give up when the event was cancelled because of the foot and mouth outbreak.   more...

New treasures of Avebury circle

MORE treasures are waiting to be prised from the earth within the ancient stone circle at Avebury.   more...

School wins top marks for big improvements

ROWDEFORD School has improved beyond recognition since being judged to have been failing five years ago, according to inspectors from Ofsted.   more...

Gym needs fixing when cash allows

THE lack of facilities for gymnastics and indoor sport at Rowdeford School is highlighted in the Ofsted report.   more...

Derelict building in line for funds help

THERE is hope for the future of the Assize Courts building in Devizes with the launch of the Market Towns Initiative for which Devizes has been chosen as a pilot.   more...

It's in the bag for one surgery

MEMBERS of the Ravensbury Players filled the Red Cross Room at Ramsbury on Friday for a County and Western evening and very special presentation.   more...

Lions share out the fun

FAMILIES took advantage of the warm weather on Monday to go to the annual May Fayre, organised by the Lions Club of Devizes.   more...

Open for business

PROSPECTIVE Parliamentary candidate Jim Thorpe cut the ribbon at the official opening of Devizes Constituency Labour Party's office in Estcourt Street, Devizes, on Saturday May 5.   more...

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

Let us have a proper debate

THE onset of election fever will no doubt prompt endless columns of newsprint, not just in this newspaper but in every publication up and down the land, as well hours of radio and television airtime.   more...

A dreadful blunder

ALLOWING consultant James Elwood to blight the lives of hundreds of women by misdiagnosing tissue samples was an almighty blunder by the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust.   more...

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

Market Place work will benefit town

I COMPLETELY agree with the various views put forward by your correspondents Mrs CG Carver and Stephen Brazier regarding the work in Devizes Market Place in your issue of May 3.   more...

Come clean over debacle in Calne's town centre

WITH reference the report on the Calne Town centre development (Gazette and Herald April 26) I can understand Bob Marshall's reluctance to comment on the report until he has had time to take it in.   more...

Thanks for all your wonderful support

THANKS to all the people in Devizes who gave donations and supported both the coffee morning and the street collection during Save the Children Week.   more...

Support for loss of car parking is just fanciful

A LETTER you published on April 26 said: "Kennet was unable to find a junior member with the talent to rearrange a few parking spaces in Devizes Market Place".   more...

Centre is not a museum

I AM writing to express my indignation at the removal of 57 parking spaces from Devizes Market Place. Throughout its history, the Market Place has always been a living, working, trading space at the heart of the commercial life of the town.   more...

Thanks to anonymous donor

DEVIZES Kats and Kits-in-care wish to say thank you to the anonymous lady pensioner who donated £100.   more...

A great bunch

I LEARNED to drive in 1958 and took my test the same year in a little market town in Pembrokshire, Haverfordwest.   more...

Praise for staff

I HAVE read with concern the articles in your May 3 edition about Health Secretary Alan Milburn's announcement to condense the number of health authorities by the year 2003 and the comments written by Rodger Allin, the chief executive of North Wiltshire and Devizes Primary Care Group, regarding the future of the Wiltshire Community Hospitals, in particular their maternity units in market towns such as Devizes.   more...

Ghost town fears

HAVING lived in Marlborough for the last 25 years it is fast becoming a ghost town, the promise of a cinema is long overdue, there are no late night buses to Swindon for those wishing to visit a cinema.   more...

Highworth News

New blood for hall

Volunteer are needed to breathe some new life into St Michael's Hall in Highworth. Committee secretary Sylvia Alexander said: "The good news is that St Michael's Hall is in fine fettle.   more...

Annual assembly

Highworth's annual assembly is being held on Tuesday in the council chamber of the Council Offices, High Street.   more...

Christmas knitting

Wool is available for those who want to knit jumpers, hats and mittens for children aged between two and 14 years, as part of this year's Operation Christmas Child.   more...

Malmesbury News

Mayor makes town history

MALMESBURY'S 116th mayor John Bowen has made history.   more...

Traders hit out as traffic lights stay

TRAFFIC lights at the Market Cross in Malmesbury, which shopkeepers claim are hitting trade, look cause traffic chaos for at least another week.   more...

Boost from gas work

A MULTIMILLION-POUND project to lay a new gas pipeline is likely to have a positive knock-on effect on the local economy, Transco has said.   more...

Local pumps will stay

PLEAS from local people have led to a U-turn on the decision to cease petrol sales at Athelstan Garage.   more...

Candidates gearing up for election showdown

GENERAL election campaigning has kicked off in North Wiltshire with Conservative incumbent James Gray confident he can hold the seat.   more...

County music head is sacked

ANTHONY Briggs, the head of Wiltshire's school music service, has been sacked by Wiltshire County Council after an investigation into his appointment.   more...

Parish may be taken into town boundary

PARTS of the parish of St Paul Without could be swallowed up by Malmesbury if town councillors have their way.   more...

Hunt for Fred number three

RAY Barnett, who has had two ornamental heads stolen from his garden in Eastcourt, near Crudwell, in the last three months, is on the lookout for a third head.   more...

Trees are the national star

WESTONBIRT Arboretum has been made the country's national arboretum.   more...

Marlborough News

Limit puts speeding drivers on the carpet

THE village of Everleigh has been given the red carpet treatment by Wiltshire County Council.   more...

New techniques tell ancient story

AS the Avebury stone circle re-opens following the foot and mouth outbreak, the latest computer-based audio-visual techniques are being used to tell the site's story in the historic Great Barn which houses the new display called 6,000 Years of Mystery.   more...

Scare does not put off crowds of visitors

BANK Holiday Monday saw more than 3,000 people visit Bowood House and Gardens to take the total over the weekend to above 5,500 as visitors were not put off following a foot and mouth scare last week.   more...

Pupils show MPs the way to win votes

AS election fever begins to grip the country, six Marlborough junior school pupils have scooped top prize with their Parliamentary manifesto that impressed Labour and Conservative MPs.   more...

Poll rivals under orders for battle

CANDIDATES in the General Election were yesterday quick to start making political points as the countdown to polling day on June 7 began.   more...

Joy for commuters as more trains are laid on

NEW First Great Western summer train services will give Pewsey more trains a day than it has had for years, earning the praise of commuters.   more...

County sacks head of music after probe

ANTHONY Briggs, the head of Wiltshire's school music service, has been sacked by Wiltshire County Council after an investigation into his appointment.   more...

Families shed light on meter problem

HUNDREDS of families in the Marlborough area face a choice of sitting in the dark at night or making a 16 mile round trip to Pewsey if their electricity key meters run out.   more...

Four quizzed on home raids

FOUR men are being questioned by police investigating a series of weekend burglaries in Marlborough, including one where a cat flap was used to gain entry.   more...

Parade sees turn out fall

COUNTY Royal British Legion secretary Bill Copeland said he was disappointed with the poor turn out for the annual county parade held in Marlborough on Sunday, May 6.   more...

End of the line nears for school's old mobile

A MARLBOROUGH primary school had double reason to celebrate this week as work started on a long awaited new classroom and pupils scooped a top award.   more...

Car park resounds to sound of cadet parade

THE car park at TH White's farm engineers and country stores in Marlborough became a parade ground on Friday, May 4, for the Air Training Corps' annual inspection and presentations.   more...

Melksham News

Teenager arrested over baby's head injuries

A Melksham teenager has been arrested in connection with head injuries suffered by a baby girl.   more...

Salisbury News

Emma's killer has sentence increased

SHORT-SIGHTED hit-and-run driver Michael Emm, who killed 18-year-old student Emma Holley as she crossed the main road in Downton, has had his jail sentence increased from three to five years.   more...

Bus strike rolls on as stalemate looms

SALISBURY and district is braced for a second 24-hour strike by staff at Wilts & Dorset bus company.   more...

Jon takes a dim view of flats next door

THE view from a Durrington man's home is being ruined by flats that are being built next door.   more...

Funding blow to tourism

TOURISM bosses have attacked the Government for not properly funding the industry.   more...

Horse trials join casualty list

THE Wilton Horse Trials, held annually at Lord Pembroke's estate, have become the latest casualty of the foot-and-mouth crisis.   more...

'Excellent' school sets sights high

COMMITMENT to excellence is a constant theme of the life of Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury.   more...

Spring fever in Downton

A CARNIVAL atmosphere embraced The Borough at Downton on Saturday - bringing merriment at last to a part of the village where people spent wretched winter weeks battling floods.   more...

Bike dash for cash

HUNDREDS of charitable young cyclists, most aged between four and ten years old, dusted down their bikes and took up the challenge to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund on Sunday.   more...

Councillor quits after 34 years

BISHOPSTONE parish councillor Ted Draper has resigned his parish seat after more than 30 years.   more...

Second time is fine for town's mayor.

A DISTINGUISHED retired railwayman signalled his devotion to his community on Tuesday by accepting the role of Mayor of Wilton for the second time.   more...

Salisbury Sport

Whites are crowned kings of the county

SALISBURY City 1 Bemerton Heath Harlquins 0. It was not a classic cup final, but the city of Salisbury's leading footballing lights both left the Raymond McEnhill Stadium with heads held high after a solitary Taffy Richardson goal six minutes from time gave Salisbury City the Wiltshire Premier Shield at the expense of near-neighbours Bemerton Heath Harlequins.   more...

New arrival gives Paddy chance to shine

SALISBURY City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 0.   more...

No end of term blues for City

SALISBURY City 2 Cambridge City 1.   more...

Richardson remains as Salisbury manager

STEVE 'Taffy' Richardson has been officially appointed Whites' player-manager after impressing the club's hierarchy during his short spell as caretaker boss.   more...

Sport Angling

Warm days and tight lines

IT was not just the weather that was good over the holiday weekend - the fishing was pretty good too, writes Roland Batten.   more...

Sport Football

Swindon halfway to a cup triumph

Swindon Schools secured a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Heinz Ketchup Trophy final against Bradford at Valley Parade last night.   more...

Now for the Doc Martens

Celebrations were the order of the day as Swindon Supermarine received their Premier Hellenic Championship Shield.   more...

Whites are crowned kings of the county

SALISBURY City 1 Bemerton Heath Harlquins 0. It was not a classic cup final, but the city of Salisbury's leading footballing lights both left the Raymond McEnhill Stadium with heads held high after a solitary Taffy Richardson goal six minutes from time gave Salisbury City the Wiltshire Premier Shield at the expense of near-neighbours Bemerton Heath Harlequins.   more...

New arrival gives Paddy chance to shine

SALISBURY City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 0.   more...

No end of term blues for City

SALISBURY City 2 Cambridge City 1.   more...

Richardson remains as Salisbury manager

STEVE 'Taffy' Richardson has been officially appointed Whites' player-manager after impressing the club's hierarchy during his short spell as caretaker boss.   more...

Stfc Sport

King ready to shuffle

Contracted players will be allowed to leave the County Ground if Andy King is handed a summer budget to bring in fresh talent.   more...

Sorry seems to be the hardest word

FULL marks to Andy King for apologising after the shambles at Stoke City.   more...

Are you watching, Danny Invincible?

REMEMBER Danny Invincible bemoaning Australia's 31-0 win over American Samoa in a World Cup qualifying game?   more...

Round of applause for Steve

I FEEL I must apologise to Steve Mildenhall for branding him something of a stingy character in my final programme ramblings for the season.   more...

It's all done for prophet

I FEEL I can look back with some satisfaction at my predictions for the season's run-in.   more...

Swindon News

We should know what's going on

Last Thursday, I was honoured to present a petition of 10,000 signatures of protest to the Ministry of Defence, on behalf of the animals being senselessly killed by the Government.   more...

British Gas `will take up complaint'

I WAS concerned to read the letter written by Mrs M Hughes and featured in the Evening Advertiser on April 24, concerning a representative of British Gas.   more...

Gas fault `alert' was no joke

ON April 25, a Transco engineer called to install a new gas meter and to check gas appliances and pipes for faults.   more...

Was it all really worth the war?

I AM 81 years old and was in the last war from September 1, 1939, until February 6, 1946. I spent the last three years and four months in India and Burma, with the Royal Engineers on the railways.   more...

No going back

THE Prime Minister has optimistically announced that we are on the home straight in eradicating foot and mouth disease ­ but we must ensure that vital lessons are learned from the crisis.   more...

Alternative site

Concerning the queues at the Barnfield Road recycling plant, may I suggest that people use the depot on the Cricklade-to-Purton road?   more...

Charity race will go on

A FUNDRAISING run will go ahead despite the foot and mouth outbreak.   more...

Lakes family day a success

More than 6,000 people welcomed a return to the countryside at the Great Lakes Family Day at Keynes Country Park.   more...

Mitel axes a sixth of its workforce

SILICON chip-maker Mitel Semiconductor is making 100 workers redundant in Swin-don.   more...

Donna's on the beat determined to tackle graffiti and stone-throwing

KEEPING Moredon safe and sound is area beat officer Donna Mitcham.   more...

Inquiry gets under way

A PUBLIC inquiry into the future of the proposed Biomass power plant at Cricklade is under way.   more...

Drum beats to ring in global music festival

THE sound of distant drums will echo across the Town Gardens in Swindon as a season of Global Dance Music kicks off with Womad veterans Imbongo.   more...

Woman collapses after `kiss of ecstasy'

A MOTHER who collapsed after taking ecstasy claimed she was duped into taking the drug while she was forcibly kissed in a night club.   more...

Join the 116-mile home run

TEAMS are needed to take part in this year's Run For Home event.   more...

New set of safety seminars for motorcyclists arranged

SAFETY seminars for motorcyclists are being repeated to cut deaths on Wiltshire's roads.   more...

Aussie trip for patient

A WOMAN recovering from cancer has won an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia.   more...

The future is not so bleak after all

IT is 12 months to the day that John Towers, a previous managing director of Rover Cars, led his Phoenix consortium in a successful takeover bid for BMW's struggling Rover division.   more...

OAP, 70, on wife murder charge

A PENSIONER is alleged to have murdered his wife during a break which was intended to save their marriage.   more...

Baby drowned in bath water

A BABY boy drowned in the bath while his mother took a phone call just a few feet away.   more...

Hitting the campaign trail proves a painful experience

THE first day of electioneering didn't go too well for borough councillor Stan Pajak.   more...

Drug charge soldier put ecstasy into girl's drink

A FORMER soldier from West Swindon laced the drinks of two women with the drug ecstasy.   more...

Karen earns high praise

WOMAN police sergeant Karen Priest served above and beyond the call of duty by talking a man down from a 120ft crane.   more...

I want my girl to come back home

THE mother of missing schoolgirl Kim Harvey has written a moving letter to her daughter, in the hope she will see it and come home.   more...

New bid to halt rise in teenage pregnancies

THE campaign to half Swin-don's rate of unplanned teen-age pregnancies began in earnest today.   more...

The carnival isn't over

APATHY may have caused some carnivals to fall by the wayside during the last year or so, but the traditional Woot-ton Bassett event is still going strong.   more...

Revised timetable on trains

TRAIN company First Great Western is operating a revised timetable this weekend because of the major sport events in Cardiff.   more...

This officer is extremely courageous

WOMAN police sergeant Karen Priest's action in rescuing a man from the top of a 120ft crane is an inspiring example of the courage and commitment shown by many of our police officers.   more...

Be generous to Prospect

THE cheques have started to flood into the Prospect Hospice as part of its 21st birthday celebrations.   more...

Wiltshire News

Teenager arrested over baby's head injuries

A Melksham teenager has been arrested in connection with head injuries suffered by a baby girl.   more...

Wiltshire Sport

King ready to shuffle

Contracted players will be allowed to leave the County Ground if Andy King is handed a summer budget to bring in fresh talent.   more...

Wootton Bassett News

Pre-school receives a glowing Ofsted

OLD Court Community Pre-school staff and parents are celebrating its best Ofsted report.   more...

Steaming to month of fun

SWINDON Steam is joining 1,400 museums and galleries around the country this month in putting on a special welcome for visitors.   more...

It's playtime for everyone

CHILDREN in Brinkworth flocked to the opening of the village's new play area, with its colourful modern slide, see-saw, swings for infants and juniors, parallel bars and spinning discs.   more...

Teenagers to have say over new skate park

SKATEBORDERS and BMX enthusiasts at Wootton Bassett are to be given the chance to have a say on the sport facilities they would like provided in the town.   more...

Winning move for two young chess hopefuls

SCHOOLGIRL Nichola Thomas has become the second girl from Wiltshire to win a place in England's chess team.   more...

School pupils to clean up prizes

SCHOOLS are being encouraged to sign up for the Community Clean Up 2001 anti-litter campaign which aims to make littering socially unacceptable.   more...

  
Restrict search to 10 May 2001

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