Archive
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Wiltshire reach national final
BOWLS: WILTSHIRE short mat bowls squad qualified for the All-England county knockout final for the first time in their history on Sunday with an impressive win over Cornwall. Family and friends joined the 20-strong squad on the coach to Wootton, near
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Lee ends four year title wait
SNOOKER: STEPHEN Lee captured his first world ranking title for four years on Sunday with a stunning victory over world champion Shaun Murphy in the Welsh Open final. The Trowbridge cueman outplayed Rotherham-man Murphy to record a comfortable 9-4
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Airsprung share the honours in cup tie
ANGLING: THE Super Cup tie between Airsprung and Pucklechurch was fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avoncliff on Sunday and resulted in a tie. Individual honours went to Dean Adams, of Airsprung, with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing
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Veteran beats junior in final
TABLE TENNIS: VETERAN Trevor Lloyd took the senior men's title at the Wiltshire Table Tennis Closed Championships at Trowbridge on Saturday, beating 15-year-old Alex Kearney (Frome Dragons) 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6 in the final. Lloyd, the number four
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Westbury 36, Swindon 2nds 7
WESTBURY banished all thoughts of last Saturday's 81-5 mauling at the hands of Devizes with a vital win in this Dorset and Wilts encounter at Leighton Green. Coach Jon Parker hailed the attitude of his players as they responded with six tries to steer
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Trowbridge 31, Oldfield Old Boys 34
TROWBRIDGE skipper Barry Coombs has apologised for the "act of frustration" which cost his side two tries and ultimately two league points on Saturday. Coombs was sin-binned for punching mid-way through the first half and was forced to watch as the classy
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Cooper-Avon Tyres 13, Dorchester 7
MARK Simmons is preparing his CATs for a dogfight after dragging Dorchester into the Southern Counties South relegation mix. With just four league fixtures remaining, three points separate seventh-placed Dorchester from second-bottom CATs. The Melksham
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McKay strikes to see off rivals’ challenge
YOUTH FOOTBALL: TROWBRIDGE Town Youth A maintained their unbeaten record in the Under Nines Blue Division of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League with a 2-0 victory over one of their closest rivals, Warminster Highbury
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Trowbridge Town 1, Winterbourne United 2
NEIL Kirkpatrick described the referee's performance as "diabolical" on Saturday after Trowbridge were beaten by 10-man Winterbourne in a fiery clash at Woodmarsh. The Bees manager said the official ruined a potential classic encounter between two
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Bradford take the lead in title race
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: BRADFORD United have replaced Freshford United at the top of Division One following a 2-0 victory over bottom of the table Heytesbury. Mark Hunt and Jack Holdway scored the goals. Freshford have now dropped to third after losing
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Artisans craft second cup final appearance
FROME LEAGUE: THE Artisans are through to their second cup final after beating Division One rivals Greyhound Athletic 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Kevin Lucas Memorial Cup. Ring of Bells opened up an 18 point lead at the top of the Premier Division
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Baker back with three goal salvo
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: JOHN Baker made a triumphant return to the Trowbridge Harriers side on Sunday. The striker scored a hat-trick in the 3-3 Premier Division draw with Corsham Cricket Club, whose goals came from Martin Ford (2) and Rob Murphy
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Bridgwater Town 0, Corsham Town 1
COLIN Bush had the last laugh on Saturday after his Corsham side silenced a vocal Bridgwater crowd at Fairfax Park. Bush overheard the Bridgwater manager tell local radio his Reds' were in for a hiding in Somerset, comments which made Corsham even
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Westbury United 2, Corsham Town 3 (after extra-time)
JERAD O'Pray drove a stake through the heart of his former club Westbury United on Tuesday with a last-minute goal that sealed a memorable Les Phillips Cup tie. O'Pray bundled the ball home in the 125th minute to bring the curtain down on a cracking
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Brislington 1, Calne Town 3
CALNE survived a rough ride at the aptly named Ironmould Lane on Saturday to record their ninth consecutive Premier Division win. The Lilywhites left Somerset battered and bruised but with three valuable league points from a game that saw six bookings
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Biddestone 1, Saltash United 2
GRAHAM Learmonth described his side's performance as "shocking and embarrassing" on Saturday as Biddestone were tamed by lowly Saltash United at Yatton Road. Errors from full back Jamie Lyons and goalkeeper Chris Snoddy gifted the visitors a two-goal
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Melksham Town 1, Keynsham Town 1
KELVIN Highmore is desperate for Somerset outfit Street to win promotion to the Premier Division so his wife can enjoy a shopping trip to the nearby Clarks Village. The Melksham manager revealed his other half enjoys spending money in Somerset and
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Clyst Rovers 2, Bradford Town 3
A STEVE Tweddle brace in the opening 15 minutes set Bradford on their way to an impressive victory over Devon outfit Clyst Rovers on Saturday. But Mark Hodkinson's men had to survive a late fight-back by their relegation-threatened hosts before all
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Bedford Town 2, Chippenham Town 1
DARREN Perrin described Saturday's second-half performance as "shambolic" as Bedford Town became the first team to complete a league double over the Bluebirds this season. On an afternoon of Southern League surprises which saw Halesowen Town tame Salisbury
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Leaders hit back for derby victory
PLAISTER AUTOS WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: PREMIER Division leaders Corsham Town Reserves found themselves two goals down at the break against visitors Devizes Town Reserves, but fought back to run out 5-2 winners. Jason Walsh and Scott Evans scored two goals
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Chippenham Town 1, Bromsgrove Rovers 2
A DAY that began at 2am in a hospital car park ended in Errea Cup misery for Darren Perrin as Chippenham fell at the penultimate hurdle to Southern Western side Bromsgrove Rovers. The Bluebirds boss missed the birth of brother Steve's daughter because
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Winter content with number 2
NEW signing Steve Winter is hoping to avoid the curse of the dreaded number two shirt tomorrow as he prepares to bolster the Chippenham defence ahead of the vital league clash with Hitchin Town. The 32-year-old former Forest Green Rovers utility man
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New dad catches up on his sleep
STEVE Perrin confessed to mixed emotions on Tuesday night when he made a swift exit from Hardenhuish Park after Chippenham were knocked out of the Errea Cup. The Bluebirds goalkeeper was eager to rejoin wife Jayne and new-born daughter Charlotte after
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JP likes action fast and furious
CHIPPENHAM have resigned attacking midfielder JP Mills in a bid to boost their depleted squad for the nailbiting climax to the Southern League season. Mills enjoyed a loan spell with the Bluebirds under former manager Tommy Saunders before moving to
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Perrin prepares to wield the axe
DARREN Perrin has challenged his Chippenham Town players to show more passion if they want to keep their shirts at Hardenhuish Park. The Bluebirds manager has hinted he may axe some of his current squad to make way for new signings in a bid to win
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Rugby club’s £3m ground deal snag
OFFICIALS of Trowbridge Rugby Club remain optimistic that plans for their new £3m ground will get the all-clear, despite a frustrating 10-month wait for planning approval. Trowbridge had hoped to be playing rugby at the site opposite Paxcroft Farm
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Crufts race is on for young dog handlers
HOURS of hard work training and competing with their pets has paid off for young dog owners who will be competing at Crufts, the world's top dog show. Five young handlers from Chippenham Agility Club have qualified for Crufts Young Kennel Club Agility
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Wife’s trial opens for Thai killing
THE Thai wife of Chippenham man Toby Charnaud went on trial on Monday accused of his murder. It is almost a year since the 40-year-old bar owner, vanished from his home in the golf resort of Hua Hin in Thailand. Six weeks later his charred remains
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Fury at PCT’s ‘SAS-style’ tactics
DEVOTED daughter June Jaques is fuming after health bosses sec- retly moved her frail mother from one hospital to another in what she branded a "covert, SAS-style exercise." Mrs Jaques, of Fitzwarren Close, Chippenham, said her elderly mother was left
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Relationship split led to man’s death
BROKEN-hearted Leslie Butt committed suicide after he split up with his partner, an inquest heard. Mr Butt, 45, of Upper Ley, Box, was found dead on September 11 in the passenger seat of a vintage car he was renovating. An inquest at Devizes magistrates
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Cancer calendar will feature male disease survivor
A BREAST cancer support group which is producing a calendar to raise awareness of the disease has asked a male sufferer to help. Brian Place, 42 of Fir Place, Colerne, was diagnosed with the disease last summer. As revealed in the Chippenham News
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Arches lit up
WORK will get underway next week to light the Western Arches as part of the Isambard Kingdom Brunel 200 celebrations. The Chippenham arches are one of Brunel's most famous landmarks in the area and ground level lights will light the stonework and underside
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Ring in to go green
GARDENERS across north Wiltshire could soon be able to recycle their green waste with the help of a new brown bin. The bins are for all garden waste and raw vegetable peelings and are available for £25 a year. They would be emptied every two weeks
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Grant means no more leaks
CHURCHGOERS in Lacock are celebrating the news they will receive £105,000 from English Heritage to carry out much-needed repairs to St Cyriac's Church. However, villagers still need to raise a further £150,000 to complete the projects planned. The
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Three years in jail for alcoholic who killed family man
ALCOHOLIC Godric Goodrich has been jailed for three years after a drink-drive death crash. Goodrich, 47, of Creswells, Corsham crashed his Peugeot 206 head on into Michael Matcham's Vauxhall Astra on Lacock Road in July. Mr Matcham, 64, of Potley
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Down Memory Lane
THE picture, right, of Dilton Marsh Junior School taken in about 1970 has been sent in by Shane Wheeler of Laverton Mill, Edward Street, Westbury. He believes those in the picture are, left to right, back, Shane Wheeler, Vince Macey, Stephen Sherriff
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Kids get off their bikes for charity
UNDER PRIVILEGED children in The Gambia have been given a helping hand to get to school through the efforts of pupils in Chippenham and Bradford on Avon. An appeal for unwanted bikes from the charity Jole Rider led to students at Abbeyfield School,
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Princess to open new centre
PRINCESS Anne is to visit Chippenham to open a new carers centre next month. The Princess Royal will be at the new North Wiltshire Carers Centre in New Road for the official opening on April 13. Manager Jeni Thomas said: "We are very excited to
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Nostalgia
This week's picture, above, is of the 1st Westbury Cubs' annual party taken in 1975. It was sent in by Cyril Full of Newleaze, Hilperton, who says he is sure the ex-cubs will be pleased to recognise themselves if they are still living in the area.
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Nails in tyres caused serviceman’s death
NAILS that became lodged into a car tyre caused the crash that killed a young RAF serviceman, an inquest heard. Neil Griffiths, 30, was driving from his home in Swansea to the base at Lyneham, where he was stationed, when his car veered across the
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Then & Now - Station Hill, Chippenham
We remain in Station Hill for this week's feature in our Then and Now series of Chippenham. We take a look at Station Hill from the higher end looking back toward its junction with New Road. Our archive picture is dated around 1920 and shows the hill
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Conmen attack OAP for £5,000
A GANG targeting the elderly and vulnerable are being blamed for a spate of distraction burglaries, including one in which a pensioner lost her life savings. Frail 79-year-old grandmother Lilian Mortimore was pushed to the floor of her Chippenham home
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Jane Austen Centre, Bath
THE work of Jane Austen has hit the headlines this week with UK actress Keira Knightley's trip to the Oscars award ceremony. One of the best starting points to find out more about the author has to be the Jane Austen Centre in Bath. The city of Bath
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My Wiltshire Life - Richard Violet
RICHARD Violet, 54, has been the community librarian at Warminster Library since 2000. He has lived in Wiltshire for over 30 years and qualified as a librarian in 1973. He has recently been involved in the opening of a cancer information and support
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OBITUARY: Mrs Norah Clarke
Mrs Norah Clarke died at the weekend at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, after a short illness. Mrs Clarke, who lived at River House, Chippenham was 86. She was well known on the local bowling scene from the 1970s through to the 1990s. She was born
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OBITUARY: Mr Laurence Henry (Laurie) Best
LAURIE BEST died at home in Trowbridge on February 19, having suffered from a chest condition for many years. Born in Hartlepool, he was very proud of his North East roots. He served his apprenticeship as a plater in a shipyard and later worked in
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School to win £20m jackpot
CHILDREN in Melksham look set to get a £20m new school while Trowbridge is in line for a big disappointment. The George Ward School has been recommended to receive a government grant that would see it demolished and rebuilt, a grant The John of Gaunt
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School’s ready to rock
A MUSIC extravaganza is set to take place at the George Ward School in Melksham. Rock 2006 will feature 10 live acts providing a show combining original compositions and well-known covers, with all profits going to charity. The event will take place
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The Mayor the merrier for civic reunion
MAYORS from down the years met up in Warminster on Friday to reminisce about their roles as civic leaders. Current mayor Les Rose decided to organise the meeting and 13 former civic leaders turned up to enjoy an afternoon of buffet and chat. Mr Rose
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Pupils get to the ‘art’ of the matter
NORMAL lessons were put on hold this week as pupils at Warminster Prep School were given the chance to explore their artistic sides. The school held its fourth annual art festival with the theme of "Around the World" and all the arts, from drama and
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Pupils put new spin on MacBeth
YOUNG acting enthusiasts are getting the chance to spread their wings at a Trowbridge school. Pupils from the Clarendon College will be reaping the benefits of BBC experience in Shakespeare workshops on Monday. Children in year nine will be preparing
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Pupils put new spin on MacBeth
YOUNG acting enthusiasts are getting the chance to spread their wings at a Trowbridge school. Pupils from the Clarendon College will be reaping the benefits of BBC experience in Shakespeare workshops on Monday. Children in year nine will be preparing
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Pupils get inside story
CHILDREN at Westbury Infants had the chance to find out more about their bodies with a visit from the Life Education Centre. Pupils were invited to step onboard the centre's mobile classroom where they got to meet Harold the giraffe and Tam a transparent
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Machine gun claims fail to help soldier
A FORMER special forces soldier clocked doing more than 80mph at an accident black spot said he speeded up because he thought a submachine gun was being aimed at him. Gareth Cook, 48, said he reacted instinctively' when he saw the police speed device
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Care worker tells of noise hell in middle of the night
A CARE worker is being forced out of her own home in the middle of the night because of rowdy neighbours. The 22-year-old, who asked not to be named, has compiled a dossier over 12 months detailing the problems she has had at her Francis Street home
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Harriet set for trip of a lifetime
A TRIP of a lifetime beckons for a young Brownie leader chosen to represent the South West in the Far East. Harriet Holland, 16, a member of 1st Trowbridge Brownies is one of 12 members of the Girl Guide movement chosen from across the UK to travel
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Libraries in book plea
BOOKS can change lives and people in Warminster and Bradford on Avon are being asked to nominate those that have had a lasting influence on them. The towns' libraries are inviting readers to nominate works, including poetry, that have had a major impact
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Elaine wins gold prize for cake
A CHEF from Codford is celebrating after winning a gold medal in a top national catering competition. Elaine Morris, 46, took first prize in the celebration cake category at an annual contest for chefs working for defence catering contractors ESS.
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Mairwen ‘thrilled’ to meet the Queen
REMEMBERING when to curtsey proved the most difficult part of Mairwen Guard's visit to Buckingham Palace to collect her MBE. Mrs Guard, who runs CottonTails rabbit sanctuary in Station Road, Westbury was presented with the honour on Thursday, in recognition
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Ambulance cash in Michelle’s memory
RAISING money for a good cause is helping to keep alive the memory of a Melksham woman who died in a car crash. The family of 26-year-old Michelle Phillips, who died in a three-car smash in Devon in 2004, have now raised over £6,500 for the Wiltshire
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Schools’ book week fun
YOUNG readers dressed up as their favourite characters to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday. Pupils from Horningsham Primary School came to class as various characters from Jack and the Beanstalk while one boy created a cardboard headdress to become
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The nagging could soon be over as new horse paint is found
AFTER years of looking grey and grubby the Westbury White Horse may soon be able to shed its nickname of the mucky mare. English Heritage has announced it is due to start repainting the landmark in September after months of tests to find a white paint
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Public to have say on leisure options
A number of options for improving west Wiltshire's open spaces and leisure/sports facilities have been put out for public consultation by the District Council. The work follows on from a detailed leisure and recreation needs assessment, carried out
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Hilary set to run for her mum
THE motivations are different for everyone but the enthusiasm of those taking part in the Bath Half Marathon is always inspiring. For 26-year-old Hilary Jones the death of her mother, Geraldine in 2000 has prompted her to run on behalf of Cancer Research
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Lindsey is a racing cert for cancer cash
AFTER fighting a battle against breast cancer, Lindsey O'Reilly is facing another challenge. The 43-year-old mum of three, of Goodwin Close, Warminster, will be taking part in the Cancer Research UK 10k race at Longleat. She was diagnosed with cancer
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Musical festival
MORE than 300 young musicians are set to take part in this year's Music for Youth regional festival next weekend. Singers, dancers and instrumentalists aged from seven to 20 from Wiltshire and surrounding counties will show what they are made of at
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BT accused in worker’s tragic fall
A BRITISH Telecom worker was catapulted to her death from the top of a telegraph pole her employers knew was unsafe, a court heard this week. A jury at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday heard 32-year-old telephone engineer Tara Whelan died after a passing
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School’s library to put village online
CHILDREN dressed as characters from their favourite books to celebrate the grand opening of their school's new library and ICT suite.
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Wheelchair cut leads to death of pensioner, 86
AN ELDERLY woman died as a result of cutting her leg on a wheelchair, an inquest heard. Ellen Eade, 86, was a resident at the Ravenscroft Care Home, when she died in June last year after suffering a deep vein thrombosis. An inquest held in Devizes
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‘It was just carnage’
LEAVES on the line has long been the laughable excuse used by rail companies to explain away late running services. Network Rail is now using it as an excuse for chopping down dozens of hawthorn trees on a Yarnbrook embankment and leaving local residents
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Kicking out ageism
COMPANIES and their employees in Wiltshire can enter a new awards scheme launched by The Department for Work and Pensions to recognise positive action in the fight against ageism. The Age Positive Awards 2006 seek to award employers and individuals
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Funds for churches
CHURCHES across Wiltshire are now eligible for an award to help with planning alterations or developments to their buildings. The new scheme was launched last weekend at a meeting of the Church's local parliament, the Diocesan Synod. Designed by the
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Pupils go with the flow to help villagers
CHILDREN at a Trowbridge primary school are going all out to help less fortunate children. All 393 pupils at the Grove Primary School in Trowbridge are to take part in a water challenge to raise money to buy resources and medical supplies for an African
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Crufts beckons for young dog handlers
HOURS of hard work training and competing with their pets has paid off for young dog owners who will be competing at Crufts, the world's top dog show. Five young handlers from Chippenham Agility Club, based at Staverton near Trowbridge, have qualified
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Exhibition tribute to car crash victim
AN artist who died after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car is to have his work celebrated in an exhibition. Luther Flood, 76, of Cliffe Drive, Limpley Stoke, was on his way to a meeting of the Freshford and District art group, where
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£75,000 plea for revamp
THE next steps have been taken in restoring the Athenaeum in Warminster to its former glory. Plans have been submitted to West Wiltshire District Council for a mezzanine level and a lift for the disabled in the historic Grade II listed building. Trustee
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New Mayor for Westbury
Pamela Cox-Maidment has been elected as the new mayor of Westbury Town Council. She will take over from current mayor Mike Hawkins in May. Cllr Cox-Maidment, who has been deputy mayor for the last year, said she was looking forward to the challenges
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Students play it safe at hard-hitting roadshow
A MOTHER whose son was killed in a car accident has joined members of the emergency services to warn teenagers about dangerous driving. Clare Brixey, whose son Ashley was killed in October 2004 when the car he was travelling in flipped into a swimming
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Bikes fly out to Gambia after school collections
UNDERPRIVILEGED children in The Gambia have been given a helping hand to get to school, through the generous efforts of students from Chippenham and Bradford on Avon. An appeal for unwanted bicycles from charity Joel Rider led to students at Abbeyfield
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Natallie: I’ll battle on to have child of my own
A CANCER survivor fighting for the right to have a child of her own has lost her last legal battle. The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Natallie Evans, 33, cannot use the frozen embryos created when she had her ovaries removed
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School wins new art status
MATRAVERS School is celebrating once again after being awarded specialist arts college status. The Westbury school heard they had been successful in their bid from the Department of Education and Skills on Wednesday. The school was first awarded specialist
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Holiday park ‘to be sold’
Holiday village operator Center Parcs yesterday looked set to be sold to a private equity group in a deal worth £205.4 million. The Blackstone Group has made the 80p-a-share takeover bid for the firm, which operates four sites in England including
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Councillor resigns
A COUNCILLOR who was at the centre of a bizarre mail dispute with her neighbours has resigned from Westbury Town Council. Christine Sheppard informed the council she would be stepping down from her position on Wednesday. In September she was accused
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Grant helps repair village hall
THE people of Atworth have been able to repair the roof of their village hall thanks to a grant. The Hills Recycling Group secured £3,800 worth of funding from a landfill tax scheme to pay for the work. On Wednesday, Bill Cooke, chairman of Atworth
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Tax protest targets Mayor’s civic event
PROTESTERS will be welcoming guests at a civic dinner and dance with placards and angry slogans. Residents of Trowbridge are planning to turn up outside the town's civic hall at the council's annual dinner and dance next Friday to protest at the rise
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How factory helped to keep Spitfire pilots in the air
SPITFIRES for many sum up the brave fighting spirit of the Second World War but few people realise Trowbridge was at the very heart of the production of these amazing machines. This week is the 70th anniversary of the first Spitfire aeroplanes and
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The fight is far from over, hospital campaigners say
CAMPAIGNERS for Westbury Hospital have vowed to continue their fight even though the last patients were moved out of the wards on Sunday. Supporters attacked members of Wiltshire County Council's health and overview scrutiny committee on Wednesday
