Swindon news, what’s on, jobs, property, cars and information from the Swindon Advertiser

Stories for 2 January 2004

Amesbury News

Life returns to Imber for service

Ruth Underwood, whose late father was early Imber campaigner Austin Underwood, adds some carnations to the wreaths. DA4640P3FOR 60 years the village has stood silent and empty, but the December 20 ceremony near St Giles' Church showed that Imber is far from forgotten.   more...

Angel `flies' over cathedral nativity scene

Christmas angel, by Peter Rush. DA4653P1A NEW angel created by local artist Peter Rush was seen "flying" above the spire crossing at Salisbury Cathedral this Christmas.   more...

On track for a memorable year

South West Trains staff celebrate the completion of their charity calendar. Pictured from left: Rebecca Bruton, Amanda Phelps, Julia Clegg, Val Coote and Hazel Pendleton. Picture by SARAH WILLIAMSA CHARITY calendar is causing a bit of a stir down on the railways.   more...

Bradford On Avon News

Trader dies in Christmas Day collision

A BRADFORD ON AVON trader was killed when he and his wife were involved in a car crash on Christmas morning.   more...

Garage's raffle for good causes

A GARAGE in Bradford on Avon has been doing its bit for the community by raising more than £500 for local charities with a grand Christmas draw.   more...

Restaurant's winning start

Staff at Rialto Restaurant, Bradford on Avon, say business is booming after only a month of trading.   more...

First task for new Explorer Scouts team

A NEW breed of Scout has been introduced to the traditional line-up of youngsters keen to do a good turn and seven Explorer Scouts have been invested for the Bradford on Avon Scout group.   more...

Jaguar stolen

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them after a Jaguar car was stolen from Bradford on Avon's railway station.   more...

Jail term threat to tax cheats

TWO council tax dodgers have been handed suspended sentences for running up four- figure deficits.   more...

School goes back in time for theme day

PUPILS and staff stepped back in time experiencing life as wartime evacuees in Britain with a 1939 theme day at Christ Church School, Bradford on Avon, on December 16.   more...

Break-in at rugby club

Would-be thieves targeted the new rugby club at Winsley in the run-up to Christmas.   more...

Business News

Race circuit's driving force

CASTLE COMBE racing circuit near Chippenham has enjoyed another successful season to reinforce its status as a major force behind Wiltshire's economy.   more...

Family business shuts down after 100 years

EMOTIONS were running high at a Trowbridge family firm this week as the doors closed on a century of trading.   more...

Restaurant's winning start

Staff at Rialto Restaurant, Bradford on Avon, say business is booming after only a month of trading.   more...

Huge queues for furniture store's new year sale

Wiltshire businessman Stephen Wicks and his staff and managers at his Bath furniture store Silcox, Son and Wicks are celebrating after hundreds queued for the launch of its new year sale.   more...

New website

A SPECIALISED vehicle business based in Westbury has launched a new look website.   more...

Helpline launched

A HELPLINE for food and drink manufacturers in the south west has been launched this week.   more...

Supermarket for sale

A former Trowbridge supermarket is for sale. The old Normans site, on the corner of Canal Road, is being sold through commercial property agent Brian Fitchett.   more...

New Year's revellers flock to party shop

STAFF at a party shop in Chippenham have been rushed off their feet while trying to cope with the demand for new year fancy dress costumes.   more...

Garage's raffle for good causes

A GARAGE in Bradford on Avon has been doing its bit for the community by raising more than £500 for local charities with a grand Christmas draw.   more...

Cinema club may be lost

FILM fans face losing the new cinema club in Westbury unless more moviegoers head through the box office.   more...

Sports café plan

Center Parcs at Longleat could soon have a bigger sports café if a new planning application gets the green light.   more...

Calne News

NEW BUSINESS SECTION

Check out our brand new Chamber Pot business section on This is Wiltshire containing news and views from the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce.   more...

Chippenham News

Clash at hunt

A YOUNG hunt saboteur claims she was punched in the face and a horse was ridden at another protester during a rally in Lacock on Boxing Day.   more...

Race circuit's driving force

CASTLE COMBE racing circuit near Chippenham has enjoyed another successful season to reinforce its status as a major force behind Wiltshire's economy.   more...

Society's 12,000 record

THE North Wilts Model Engineering Society is celebrating its most successful year for passenger numbers since setting up 40 years ago.   more...

Veteran vows to fight on

A PORTON Down veteran from Chippenham has slammed a new document on chemical tests carried out at the MOD base.   more...

Corsham News

Young woman hit in face by mugger

A YOUNG mum who was punched in the face by a mugger in Corsham is calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in the town centre.   more...

Corsham's finest sights shown on ITV drama

Scene from The Mayor Of Casterbridge filmed in Corsham High Street with actors James Purefoy and Jodhi May who starred in the ITV programmeA HOLLYWOOD blockbuster is the next logical step for Corsham after its starring role in ITV1's Christmas drama The Mayor Of Casterbridge this week.   more...

Action to banish nasty niff

RESIDENTS in Colerne could soon be breathing easier after Wessex Water pledged to solve a long-standing sewage smell in the village.   more...

Ctfc Sport

On-loan Saint plans a professional future

SOUTHAMPTON youngster Michael Green gave a man of the match performance on his home debut for Chippenham and then revealed his ambitions to forge a career in professional football.   more...

Melksham News

Young mum loses cancer fight

DEVOTED mother Sarah Clark handpicked Christmas presents for her four children shortly before losing her battle against cancer.   more...

Bundles of joy arrive for Christmas

Sue Davis with Charlie CookeMIDWIFERY staff at Trowbridge maternity unit were kept on their toes on Christmas Day with the arrival of four little bundles of festive joy.   more...

Memories of kind-hearted, generous man

THE wife of a Steeple Ashton man who died after suffering a brain haemorrhage on Christmas Day has spoken of her family's loss.   more...

Pewsey News

Clash at hunt

A YOUNG hunt saboteur claims she was punched in the face and a horse was ridden at another protester during a rally in Lacock on Boxing Day.   more...

Salisbury News

Angel `flies' over cathedral nativity scene

Christmas angel, by Peter Rush. DA4653P1A NEW angel created by local artist Peter Rush was seen "flying" above the spire crossing at Salisbury Cathedral this Christmas.   more...

On track for a memorable year

South West Trains staff celebrate the completion of their charity calendar. Pictured from left: Rebecca Bruton, Amanda Phelps, Julia Clegg, Val Coote and Hazel Pendleton. Picture by SARAH WILLIAMSA CHARITY calendar is causing a bit of a stir down on the railways.   more...

Chief intends to be `visible and known'

WILTSHIRE'S new assistant chief constable and head of operations, Peter Vaughan, has begun his period of office with a pledge to make community policing one of his key objectives.   more...

Sport Angling

Charity's a winner in Christmas open event

THE Bath open Christmas match fished on the Avon between Freshford and Grosvenor, and sponsored by Broadlands Fruit Farm, produced some reasonable sport for the sell out field and also raised £135 for children's charity CLIC.   more...

Sport Football

Herring Signs Bluebirds Deal

SWINDON Town youngster Ian Herring has agreed a permanent 18-month deal with Dr Martens Premier Division Chippenham Town.   more...

Bassett at strength for Cleeve crunch

Wootton Bassett, in desperate need of Premier Division points, visit Bishops Cleeve and it would be a great start to the New Year for Pete Yeardley's outfit if they come away with a result.   more...

King at the double in College win

New College bounced back from the disappointment of a recent league cup semi-final defeat to beat visitors Salisbury City 5-2 and maintain third place in the South West Counties League.   more...

Rivals close in on Trowbridge

Trowbridge Town are sitting pretty at the top of the Wilts League Premier Division at the halfway stage of the season ­ but their rivals are queueing up behind waiting to pounce on any slip.   more...

Devizes hit by injuries

DEVIZES languish in the bottom three of the Premier Division ­ and their hopes of victory at home to Devon side Torrington tomorrow have been hit by a series of injuries to first teamers.   more...

The weekend's non-league football fixtures

PLAISTER AUTOS WILTSHIRE LEAGUE   more...

Rival manager made it so easy

KELVIN Highmore praised the passion and desire of his Calne Town side after their victory over Corsham on Boxing Day.   more...

Highmore's the hero in derby clash

BEN Highmore justified his manager's faith in him on Boxing Day as he scored one goal and made another to end Corsham Town's eight match unbeaten run in a match that was brought to a halt for 15 minutes due to a serious injury.   more...

Colbourne signs off with penalty double

TOBY Colbourne was the man on the spot for Westbury on Boxing Day as he fired home two penalties in his farewell appearance for the club.   more...

Fry's ready to step into the hot seat

TOBY Colbourne will be a hard act to follow but Westbury United manager Derek Graham believes he may already have signed an ideal replacement.   more...

Trowbridge League

THE Premier Training International-sponsored Trowbridge League kicks off the second half of its 106th season tomorrow, with more cliff-hanging issues in prospect.   more...

Chippenham league

VIRGIN Mobile maintained their unbeaten home record in Division Four of the Vanitec Computers-sponsored Chippenham Sunday League with a 4-0 win over Rowde.   more...

Sport Rugby

Bath back in the mire

BATH'S backline problems have taken another turn for the worst, with head coach John Connolly having just six fit three-quarters for the trip to Premiership basement boys Rotherham Titans on Sunday (3pm).   more...

Tindall gets injury boost

BATH have received a major boost with the news that Mike Tindall's ankle injury does not require an operation.   more...

Bassett Chase a New Year Lift

Wootton Bassett travel to Tadley tomorrow to play a rearranged Southern Counties South fixture.   more...

Swindon News

Council tax hike will not be 13.1 per cent

I would like to respond to the points made by B W Breakspear (Letters).   more...

No more faffing about

Michael Wills MP has got a damned cheek to accuse key players of faffing around with regard to backing a university campus at Coate (Adver, December 22).   more...

Bulldozing suggestion is no joke

PEOPLE living or working in central Swindon must be appalled at MP Michael Wills' suggestion to "bulldoze the lot" (headline EA, Dec 8).   more...

What a mockery

WHILE Swindon's most modern housing developments are full of mock Tudor, mock Georgian and mock cottage houses, the historic buildings are being forced to look modern.   more...

A heart of glass

Having waited several months for the redevelopment plans of the Mechanics Institute to be published, I'm more than a little disappointed.   more...

Party thank you

AT the Deers Leap on Sunday December 21, a party was held for the senior citizens of Penhill.   more...

Riddle of the roof

THOUSANDS of Swindonians, myself included, occupy houses built in the 1920s and 30s which still retain their original roofs and, apart from the odd slate or ridge tile, have put their owners to little expense.   more...

£10,000 given to teenage project

SWINDON'S Youth Empowerment Project has been awarded £10,000 from financial company Zurich.   more...

Newsagent held hostage

A RAIDER held a newsagent manager hostage as he demanded cash.   more...

Eric was ever loyal to his team

Ref. 21014-02A POPULAR pork butcher and former Swindon Town chairman has died, aged 95.   more...

Concert helps to stop child cruelty

YOUNGSTERS did their bit to help stamp out child cruelty with a fundraising Christmas concert for the NSPCC.   more...

Target set at £11,000

Swindon's Well Woman Centre is hoping new fundraising volunteers will join the busy team in the New Year.   more...

This plan will not work say doctors

SWINDON doctors have hit back at the Government's plan to charge foreigners for health care.   more...

New Year babes

Ref. 28467-10SAM Cook celebrated 2004 with a belated Christmas present - a beautiful baby boy.   more...

Sneak preview of new reserve

WILDLIFE lovers are invited to a sneak preview of a new nature reserve that has not yet to open to the public.   more...

Slimmers celebrate with 80s pop legend at awards night

TWO Swindon slimmers were thrilled to rub shoulders with soap star Martin Kemp at a national awards ceremony.   more...

Karen will boost jobs for the disabled

A SWINDON organisation has been awarded a contract to help people with disabilities return to work.   more...

Society's 12,000 record

THE North Wilts Model Engineering Society is celebrating its most successful year for passenger numbers since setting up 40 years ago.   more...

Pick up that litter

Residents can help tidy up their environment for the New Year with a litter pick in Seven Fields Nature Reserve.   more...

Couple's silver gift to appeal

Ref. 28449-30A SILVER wedding anniversary has helped boost the Swindon Cancer Appeal coffers by £500.   more...

Keeping trusts on their toes

New health watchdogs in Swindon have been getting to grips with their roles - and there is still time to join them.   more...

Hoping for peace on the front line

Ref. 28423-30A SWINDON aid worker will be hoping for a peaceful New Year when he returns to the Balkans.   more...

Right under our noses

DRUGS needles have been found dumped in the filthy stairwell of a Swindon car park. About 30 used syringes were found alongside broken wine bottles and blankets in a fire escape at the Fleming Way multi-story car park, next to Debenhams.   more...

Assault claim wins £10,000

Ref. 28457-01A FOOTBALL fan who says he was assaulted by Swindon's football intelligence officer has received £10,000 in damages from the Wiltshire Constabulary.   more...

Couple's dog dies in New Year's day blaze

JAN and Barry Norridge had a bad start to the New Year after a fire severely damaged their house and killed their dog.   more...

Orders in court to stop girls on game

INJUNCTIONS against prostitutes plying their trade in the town centre are due to be taken out today   more...

Charlie puts her stamp on appeal

Ref. 28453-10SINCE appearing in the Advertiser two weeks ago, young cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis has been inundated with stamps for her fundraising appeal.   more...

`Cash was a godsend'

Ref. 27662-4A VOLUNTARY group that mediates between quarrelling neighbours has been saved from the chop thanks to a £5,000 cash windfall.   more...

Festive season costs double

MONEY is often tight after Christmas, so Alan Mellar was outraged to discover he had been charged twice for an expensive purchase.   more...

Memorial campaign heads for a victory

AN ARTIST is in the process of creating the sculpture for a war memorial in Wootton Bassett.   more...

A need to clean up their act

THE crews who have to clear up the mess deposited in our streets and car parks do a loathsome job few of us would want to tackle. And in an ideal world drug users would not be dumping their used syringes in areas where they might harm other people.   more...

Always smiling

MILKMAN Nigel Crocker is a member of an unfortunately declining breed. Not only does the 61-year-old happily get up at 3am, six days a week to go to work, he loves doing things for other people ­ and he does them with a smile.   more...

Trowbridge News

Girl dies after fall

A NEIGHBOURHOOD in Trowbridge has been rocked by the death of a four-year-old girl who plunged 20ft from a first floor window.   more...

Diversity festival to close

AN EXHIBITION chronicling the history of two Trowbridge communities will be officially closed by a Polish dignitary later this month.   more...

Man slashed in face outside Chicago Rock

AMBULANCE chiefs in Wiltshire have come under fire after a man needing nearly 30 stitches was rushed to hospital in a police car because paramedics were overstretched.   more...

Family business shuts down after 100 years

EMOTIONS were running high at a Trowbridge family firm this week as the doors closed on a century of trading.   more...

`Be humane to the pigeons' ­ author

A LEADING author on pigeons has joined the ranks of protesters campaigning against a cull in Trowbridge.   more...

Bundles of joy arrive for Christmas

Sue Davis with Charlie CookeMIDWIFERY staff at Trowbridge maternity unit were kept on their toes on Christmas Day with the arrival of four little bundles of festive joy.   more...

Jail term threat to tax cheats

TWO council tax dodgers have been handed suspended sentences for running up four- figure deficits.   more...

Tyre-slashers cause £2,000 damage

CAR vandals went on a £2,000 wrecking spree at a Trowbridge garage slashing 23 tyres in one night.   more...

Snooker tickets are going fast

WITH just over a month to go tickets to see seven snooker greats in action at Trowbridge Civic Hall are almost sold-out.   more...

Service for ex-teacher

A RETIRED sports teacher from Trowbridge has died, aged 68.   more...

Baby gives new hope to Charlotte's family

Charlotte with brother LeighTHE family of Trowbridge schoolgirl Charlotte Wakeham at last has something to celebrate after her aunt gave birth to a baby girl this week and named her Kayla Charlotte in memory of her niece.   more...

Retired stationer dies at 82

RETIRED Trowbridge trader Richard John Rose died in hospital on Sunday morning after a stroke. He was 82.   more...

88-year-old woman tricked out of cash

AN 88-year-old woman duped by a conman in a busy Trowbridge shopping precinct said she might never set foot in the county town again.   more...

Merger threat to Wiltshire police

POLICE chiefs in Wiltshire are finalising their plans to guard the county force against the threat of a merger by canvassing public opinion.   more...

Appeal to save post offices

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for West Wiltshire District Council to help secure the future of Wiltshire's post offices.   more...

Furnace gets OK

Lafarge cement works is a step closer to burning chemical waste after receiving planning permission for a new furnace.   more...

Could you help care for a child?

RINGING in the New Year could mean a better deal for Wiltshire's children if people make it their resolution to help youngsters in desperate need of support.   more...

Drink-driving increase over festive period

THE number of people arrested for drink- driving in Wiltshire over the Christmas period has shot up by 54 per cent.   more...

Meetings for young dads

YOUNG dads are set to be the centre of attention under a new initiative by the Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership.   more...

Honoured for good work

PEOPLE in west Wiltshire have been celebrating after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.   more...

Special service in Imber

VISITORS to Wiltshire's ghost village will mark 60 years since its evacuation tomorrow (Saturday) with a special commemorative service.   more...

Greetings sent from fast lane

SAFETY camera bosses in Wiltshire received Christmas cards from an unusual source - alleged speeders.   more...

20mph zones

Traffic chiefs are pledging to curb speeding near schools in west Wiltshire.   more...

Trowbridge,Bradford On Avon,Melksham,Warminster,Westbury News

Our prayers are for tragic families

Christmas and New Year is a time to appreciate your family and loved ones. But it is too easy to get wrapped up in the razzmatazz and glitz of present-giving to remember what the festive period is all about.   more...

Clear up all the rubbish before tackling pigeons

WELL said Victor May. The pigeons do indeed have as much right as us to exist and in 20 years of shopping and visiting Trowbridge I have never seen them as being a problem.   more...

Who's the guilty party

REFERENCE the Star letter in the Wiltshire Times on December 26, an interesting point was raised by Tony Carroll regarding the zig-zag crossing.   more...

Thanks from the Vine

That time of year is here again when we take stock, and realise we would not be where we are without support and encouragement from families, friends, associates and the community we live in.   more...

Preserve our countryside

FLICK through last week's Wiltshire Times and find the most attractive photograph within its 56 pages.   more...

Saddam's capture will not help west

HOW very convenient, the broadcasting media are telling us that Saddam is captured, without the usual cross-examination about independent confirmation that it is Saddam.   more...

They're not angels

May I wish a happy new year to the person/s who obviously received a shiny new pen knife for Christmas and felt the need to slash tyres on several cars in Gladstone Road.   more...

Plea for Shopmobility

Shopmobility, where art thou? Since this service failed all the disabled people who used it have been housebound.   more...

Warminster News

Christmas in Iraq for the troops

WARMINSTER Army major Charlie Mayo was among the British troops in Iraq spending their first Christmas away from their families.   more...

Bride-to-be needed for show

ONE lucky bride will be strutting her stuff on the catwalk in a dream wedding dress at a special event in Warminster next Sunday.   more...

Mast site yet to be decided

FRUSTRATED residents in Warminster are still waiting for the companies behind a proposed mobile phone mast to name a new site for the project.   more...

Hospital upgrade

The town hospital in Warminster is to get new clinical and domestic waste compounds as part of West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's ongoing development plans.   more...

Sports café plan

Center Parcs at Longleat could soon have a bigger sports café if a new planning application gets the green light.   more...

Tributes to victim flood in

FRIENDS and family have been paying tribute to a lifelong Warminster resident killed in a car crash in December.   more...

Westbury News

Family is key to Harry's long, healthy life

A CHRISTMAS centenarian who celebrated his birthday with 47 descendants claims his family has been the real reason for his long and healthy life.   more...

Boozing youths wreck play area

Teenagers trashed a play area during a Christmas drinking binge just months after it was closed to stop frequent vandalism.   more...

Church site tug-of-war

HOMEOWNERS are being asked to express their opinion on the future of the religious site set for Leigh Park.   more...

Cinema club may be lost

FILM fans face losing the new cinema club in Westbury unless more moviegoers head through the box office.   more...

Drink rush raises £155

DRINKERS raised their glasses to collect cash for children with learning difficulties in pubs across Westbury on Monday evening.   more...

Drug dealer avoids jail

Westbury cannabis dealer Leigh Parham has again avoided a prison sentence after failing to complete a probation order.   more...

Stroke unit is forced to close

A SPECIALIST stroke unit in Westbury has been shut down and patients forced to leave their beds because of a staffing crisis.   more...

Milk plant faces new problems

BOSSES at the troubled Westbury Dairies plant have come under fire from angry milk price campaigners.   more...

Wiltshire News

Campaign heads for a victory

AN ARTIST is in the process of creating the sculpture for a war memorial in Wootton Bassett. Residents have been fundraising for more than five years to create a fitting tribute to the town's men and women who lost their lives during the two world wars.   more...

Wiltshire Sport

Play-Off Aim

ANDY KING has not completely given up on `the miracle' of automatic promotion but accepts that anything less than a play-off place will signal a disappointing campaign as he prepares for the visit of Bournemouth tomorrow.   more...

Wootton Bassett News

Memorial campaign heads for a victory

AN ARTIST is in the process of creating the sculpture for a war memorial in Wootton Bassett.   more...

Queen's special delivery for Nigel

Ref. 28459-39A MILKMAN who has been delivering neighbourly help as well as milk for the past 38 years has been rewarded with an MBE.   more...

  
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