What’s inside this issue…
01963 400186
newsdesk@blackmorevale.net 01963 400186 Lorraine
lorraine_drake@icloud.com 07850 529937 Kye Harman
Rufus has hit the road for charity - with just one half marathon left to go!
RUNNING
one half marathon is hard enough for most – but a Salisbury man is close to completing his eighth of the year - and it's all for charity.
Rufus Cannon, who described himself as “no real runner”, has so far completed half marathons in London, Birmingham, Bath, Chichester, Newbury and Winchester.
He now has two left to complete - the Cardiff Half on October 5 and the Barrow and Downs Half on October 11.
Rufus set himself the challenge to raise money for Horatio’s Garden, a charity supporting those with spinal injuries by designing and maintaining therapeutic gardens in NHS spinal injury centres across the UK.
He said he has dipped in and out of the sport over the years before he ran his first half marathon and has so far run one a month for six months.
raised
“The seven others? I felt that I really had to go big in order to support such a worthwhile cause, plus I wanted to run one for each garden Horatio’s Garden has opened nationally,” he said.
“I have really learned to enjoy running whilst training around the beautiful landscape of our beautiful city."
He added: “It has been challenging, but all for a fantastic cause as spinal injury can happen to anyone at any time. The results are lifechanging and devastating.
“It is critical to have an incredible garden on offer right outside the hospital ward. Places for reflection and adjustment, privacy and solace, joy and companionship for everyone who needs it.
“Every garden is a transformational part of people’s rehabilitation, with
Man injured in street assault
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was hurt in an assault in the city.
The assault reportedly took place in Crane Street some time between 3.30pm and 3.50pm on Tuesday, September 23.
The force said a man and a woman were involved, with the man reportedly sustaining minor injuries.
“We understand there were a number of people around and we are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident,” a police spokesperson said.
“If you can help, please email PC Dalton at 70286@wiltshire. police.uk quoting reference 54250128491.”
evidence that being in the garden improves mental and physical health and distracts from pain.”
Rufus will be on home turf for his last half marathon, as the Barrow and Downs Half route includes the Salisbury Plain – something he said is particularly special and
poignant.
He has so far raised an impressive £1,600 for Horatio’s Garden.
n Follow Rufus’ progress on Instagram at @ru_can_run and to view and support his fundraising efforts, visit www. justgiving.com/page/rucannon-2.
Rufus has
£1,600 for Horatio's Garden so far
Restored pub in Good Beer Guide
THEowners of a refurbished Salisbury pub are celebrating their inclusion into the Good Beer Guide - just two years after bringing the venue back to life.
Nine years ago, The Coach & Horses, in Winchester Street, closed its doors to drinkers.
However, in 2023, Christian Airey’s family bought the late-15th century coaching inn in 2023.
When landlord Chris Meaker first opened the doors to the pub, they were met with a scene reminiscent of a horror movie.
A thick layer of dust covered everything, with pint glasses frozen in time were left on tables exactly where they had been left by the drinkers.
A plant was growing out of a gutter and the back door into the courtyard was impossible to open.
The previous landlord had locked the door and walked away without even bothering to wash up.
An intense six-month restoration project soon started,
with no expense spared, and the pub reopened to the public on October 6, 2023.
The pub has now been transformed into a clean, light and airy premises – and the back yard is once again open as a pleasant outside space to have a drink and a meal in summer.
This marked turnaround has now seen the pub included in the 2026 Good Beer Guide by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Local CAMRA members, a knowledgeable and sometimes hard-to-please electorate, praised the pub’s emphasis on real ales, mostly from local breweries, and cider from the surrounding areas.
There are three handpumps at the bar and a row of taps immediately behind it.
Keith Foster, Good Beer Guide co-ordinator for the local CAMRA branch, said: “In less than two years since reopening,
The Coach & Horses has established itself as one of Salisbury’s destination pubs.
“A good selection of cask and craft beers, many local, is complemented by a friendly atmosphere and good food. It is a deserved new entry into the Good Beer Guide.”
Keith presented Chris Meaker, who runs the pub with his wife Theresa, with his Good Beer Guide certificate.
Chris said: “This is something that we have been working towards for the last two years. We have an emphasis on local ales and ciders.
“At the start it was just me making sure that the beer was kept well but now we have got the staff trained up it is a team effort.”
Altogether there are 19 pubs from South Wiltshire in the 53rd edition of the Good Beer Guide. The foreword for the 2026 Guide, published on September 25 has been written by Ed Byrne, the comedian and beer lover famous for his #preshowpints on social media.
Keith Foster, Good Beer Guide co-ordinator for Salisbury & South Wilts CAMRA, presenting Coach & Horses landlord Chris Meaker with his Good Beer Guide certificate
GS WINDOWS
£2,075
£2,755
£3,450
£4,140
£4,820
£5,515
£6,205
£6,905
£8,760
£9,570
£10,370
£11,170
£11,965
£7,585
£8,280
£8,970
Disabled visitors' anger over byways
DISABLED
visitors to Stonehenge have accused council chiefs of being 'uncaring' over months of byway closures.
The droves surrounding Stonehenge offer visitors the chance to get close to the stones without paying to park at the English Heritage visitor centre car park.
But the byway off Willoughby Close, in Larkhill, was closed earlier this year as Wiltshire Council carried out resurfacing works after “certain vehicles caused significant damage”.
The council said it was considering possible restrictions to the byways following “inappropriate use” during large gatherings, such as some people setting up long-term encampments.
While pedestrian access was maintained throughout the closure, people who cannot walk long distances, such as the elderly and the disabled, said it was a problem.
The byway reopened in time for the autumn equinox on September 22, and protestors gathered at the byways entrance
to inform others of the issues and have their voices heard.
The protest featured members of the group Enable the Disabled - Stonehenge (ETDS), as well as 90-year-old professor Terence Meaden who has extensively studied Stonehenge, and pagans – who were disappointed with how the council treated disabled visitors to the site.
Lou Barnes, from ETDS, said: “Disabled and infirm people want to attend Stonehenge or access the surrounding landscape at sunrise or sunset outside of English Heritage hours just like everyone else.
“Age, disability and religion are protected characteristics but Wiltshire Council do not seem to care nor be inclusive.
“People want to be enabled. Astonishingly, Wiltshire Council have told us after a complaint was raised that the byways are accessible to us on foot, by bicycle, moped and horse.
“There is a clear lack of diversity training and understanding of the needs of the elderly, disabled or infirm
people.”
While the byway was accessible by foot, those with a wheelchair were not able to travel up the road as there was not a large enough gap.
And Lou said this was never practical, as many disabled people would be unable to travel along the mile walk to the stones as many require a vehicle to keep medical equipment nearby.
She believes the council should have carried out a Public Sector Equality Duty Assessment – a legal requirement.
The council failed to respond to queries about whether this assessment was carried out, but confirmed workers were on site for only 19 days through the months of closures to carry out surface repairs.
Council leader, Ian Thorn, said: “The byways were closed to vehicles only while we carried out resurfacing works, however access remained open for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, and disabled buggies.
“Disabled access to the Stonehenge monument was
maintained via the visitors centre, throughout the closure.
“Because of the type of surface material used, we needed the right ground conditions to be able to complete the works required.
“There were also some delays in getting the materials we needed, so our team was on site for a total of 19 days to complete the resurfacing work.”
Lou made several complaints about the issue to Wiltshire Council, and is awaiting a copy of the PSED assessment after submitting a Freedom of Information request.
She added: “We are bitterly disappointed and feel let down by the lack of inclusivity and we are also astonished by the clear lack of oversight being provided by the executive of Wiltshire Council as procedures and internal policies appear to be being circumvented.
“Wiltshire Council claims ‘everybody matters’ but clearly persons with protected characteristics do not.”
One of the protestors, Maryam Halcrow, who first came to experience the summer solstice at Stonehenge in 1984,
Maryam Halcrow, Terence Meaden and Lou Barnes at the entrance to the byway on Willoughby Road in Larkhill
Picture: Salisbury & Avon Gazette
at Stonehenge amid resurfacing work
has difficulties walking the long distance up the droves due to her asthma.
“Once English Heritage moved the disabled toilets at the visitor centre car park, I started coming to the droves to visit the site,” she said.
“Wiltshire Council seems to close the byway each year to carry out resurfacing works and it means the area has sadly now become quite inaccessible to me.
“We know that Wiltshire Council wants to permanently close the byways, as evidenced in 2018, and now they are trying to do it surreptitiously.”
Wiltshire Council banned vehicles using the byways in 2018, but this was overturned by a High Court judge after the Trail Riders Fellowship challenged the decision in court.
King Arthur Pendragon – a senior druid and pagan priest who has long campaigned for
free access for all to the site –previously told your Gazette he believes the council wants to see the byways closed permanently as part of a calculated move to push people into paying to park at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre car park.
“In my opinion, Wiltshire
Council, working in concert with English Heritage (heretics as I refer to them) and the police, are and have for some while now been trying to re-designate all the byways open to all traffic within the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge by enforcing traffic restrictions upon them for one
purpose and one purpose only, that of revenue protection,” he said. “Which, if they succeed, would give English Heritage an unfair monopoly on parking in the World Heritage Site allowing them to levy a charge on anyone attending Stonehenge and the surrounding environment.”
The disability access point Picture: Lou Barnes
Explore your future at Wiltshire College & University Centre open events
With young people and adults across Wiltshire now making decisions about their next steps in education, Wiltshire College & University Centre is inviting them to explore its campuses this Autumn at the first open events of the year.
Thousands of visitors attend the College’s open events each year, and the October and November events are set to provide a valuable opportunity to discover everything the College has to offer across its four campuses.
The College is holding open events across all four campuses and its specialist motorsport teaching centre at Castle Combe, giving visitors the chance to see the facilities first hand, meet tutors, and explore the full range of opportunities available.
• Trowbridge – 1 October, 5PM
• Lackham – 4 October, 10AM
• Chippenham – 7 October, 5PM
• Salisbury – 9 October, 5PM
• Trowbridge – 8 November, 10AM
• Castle Combe – 15 November, 9AM
• Chippenham – 15 November, 10AM
• Lackham – 15 November, 10AM
• Salisbury – 22 November, 10AM
From state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in Salisbury to industry-standard automotive and engineering workshops in Chippenham and Trowbridge, and the renowned robotic dairy and land-
based resources at Lackham, visitors will have the chance to see the College’s outstanding facilities.
Highlights also include Tech Trowbridge, the College’s specialist hub for digital and technology skills, as well as the professional training salons and public restaurants that give students hands-on experience in real working environments.
Alongside campus tours, the events are designed to give prospective students a real insight into college life. Guests can meet tutors, speak to current students, and find out more about the wide range of full-time courses, apprenticeships, university-level and professional training on offer. Staff will also be available to advise on applications, financial support, student support and future career pathways.
David West, Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications at Wiltshire College & University Centre, said: “An open event is the best way to find out what Wiltshire College & University Centre can offer you. It’s a chance to see our campuses in action, talk directly to staff and students, and discover the wide variety of courses and support available. For many visitors, it’s the first step towards making an important choice about their future – and we’re here to help them make that decision with confidence.”
To book a place or find out more visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk/events.
Fine for man who dumped mattress
ASALISBURY
man received a hefty fine after he dumped household waste and furniture in a communal bin store.
The case came after Wiltshire Council’s environmental enforcement team received a tip off about the fly tipping offence in December 2024.
Officers found a rolled-up mattress, a sofa, chairs and a table that had been placed in the store at a block of flats, along with a children’s bicycle and a suitcase, pictured.
A witness identified Radu Marton, of Tollga-te Road, as the man responsible.
He was interviewed under caution and was issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice (FPN). But as this fine was not paid, the council pursued prosecution.
Marton appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court on September 25, where he pleaded guilty. He
was fined a total of £1,090, including costs and a victim surcharge.
The resident who assisted the investigation is set to be rewarded with high street vouchers as part of the council’s We’re Targeting Fly-tippers campaign.
Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, streetscene and flooding, said: “There is really no excuse for fly-tipping, and that is why we are committed to holding any offenders accountable.
“Mr Marton had several lawful options to dispose of his unwanted furniture, including donating items for reuse at his local household recycling centre or using our large item collection service.
“Instead, he chose to dump them in a communal bin store, causing disruption for other residents and committing a criminal offence.
“People who are caught fly-tipping can be issued with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice or be taken to court, where they could face an unlimited fine or imprisonment.
“Mr Radu could have avoided the court action by paying his fixed penalty notice but failed to do so – leaving us no choice but to take legal action.
“I’d like to thank the resident who assisted us and helped us bring this case to court. I encourage anyone who spots a fly-tip in the county, or someone disposing of their waste
illegally, to report it to us using MyWilts.
“In doing so, they could receive a reward of up to £200 in gift vouchers if the information they provide leads to a successful prosecution, or a fixed penalty notice being paid.”
Wiltshire Council and some charities can collect bulky items such as furniture, carpets and bicycles from properties for reuse.
For more information, people can visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ article/10478/Large-item-reuseand-collection.
Good quality reusable items can also be donated to a household recycling centre for reuse. Find out more at www. wiltshire.gov.uk/donate-youritems-to-a-hrc.
To find out more about how the council is tackling flytipping in Wiltshire and how to report it, see www.wiltshire.gov. uk/fly-tipping.
Game over for retro Salisbury arcade
ARETRO arcade in Salisbury officially closed at the weekend despite a concentrated effort to keep doors open.
Highest Score Arcade, in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre, put out a rallying call to gamers in July after operational issues, rising costs and low footfall saw it temporarily close.
This saw a short-term upturn in fortunes for the independent entertainment space as increased footfall saw it raise £3,000 in just two days.
But it seems this wasn’t enough to keep the lights on, as owner James Petherick announced last week the arcade could not continue in its current location due to circumstances outside of his control.
It officially closed on September 28 and James said it was not an easy decision to make.
“I have poured everything into creating a space full of fun,
nostalgia, and community, but unfortunately circumstances beyond my control mean the arcade cannot continue at its current location,” he said.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the arcade over the last year — from loyal regulars to first-time visitors, from families and gamers to the amazing people who encouraged me to give this dream a go. You’ve made it all worthwhile.“
Work to dismantle and relocate the arcade machines began on Sunday.
James added: “Is this truly game over, or simply insert coin to continue?
“From the bottom of my
heart: thank you Salisbury, thank you to visitors from further afield, thank you gamers, thank you friends.”
Commenting on Facebook, James said the “powers above”
did not recognise that the arcade brought footfall to Cross Keys Shopping Centre.
“They didn’t recognise the wider benefit it gave to the cohesion of the city and to other businesses,” he said. “For me, it has never been about one single business.
“Highest Score Arcade has always been about creating a reason for people to come in, an experience that lifts the whole area and benefits all traders.”
Customers reacted sadly to the news.
One said: “I will miss playing great games here and my daughter will too on the NASCAR arcade on outrun.”
Another said: “You have been my five-year-old’s only reason to come into town for the past year so thank you.”
Driver arrested after school coach crashes into ditch
A MAN has been arrested after a coach carrying 29 children crashed into a ditch on the A36.
The coach, carrying children from the Bristol area, left the southbound carriageway of the A36 between the Ower roundabout and junction 2 of the M27 just after 5.10am on September 25.
Luckily none of the schoolchildren were reported as injured, but one of the four teachers on board suffered a minor leg injury.
The driver, a 48-year-oldman from Hungerford who also suffered minor injuries, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whist unfit through drink and/or drugs.
Officers are now appealing for any potential witnesses to get in touch to help the investigation.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while we dealt with this and got our investigations underway,” Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said.
“We’re appealing for any motorists who were on that stretch of road around the time of the collision to contact us if they saw the coach in the lead up to the incident or if you may have any dash cam footage, which could assist with our investigation.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference 44250432585.
Bid to make stables community asset
ASTABLES that has provided continuous equestrian use since the Second World War could become an Asset of Community Value.
The designation would give the community the right to band together for up to six months to try and buy the land, should it be listed for sale.
An application has now been submitted for the Manor Park Paddocks and Stables, found between Hackthorne Road and Netheravon Road.
The nomination form said that despite a “bountiful” number of bridleways in the area, there are few stabling options for residents not in the military.
“Manor Park Paddocks and Stables offers the only stabling in Durrington village, and realistically the only viable option in the immediate vicinity,” it said.
“The stables and paddocks
are therefore an attractive and unique selling point for those moving to Durrington, with many residents having learnt to ride at the stables or have bought houses in the village so they can keep their horses within walking distance of their home.
“This gives the stables a
Tim Bouverie: Allies at War
Tuesday 30 September · Salisbur y Museum
Behind the Churchill–Roosevelt–Stalin alliance
Piano Recital: Philip Clouts with Ron Phelan
Wednesday 8 October · Arundells
Jazz piano with Af rican, gospel and Cuban influences
Silent Film: Underground (1928)
Sunday 19 October · St John’s Place, Bemer ton
Classic thriller with live piano accompaniment
Gyles Brandreth & Nicholas Soames
Friday 24 October · Godolphin School
Stories, wit and insight f rom Churchill’s Grandson
community feel, even though the ongoing threat of closure has made the stables seem a less reliable option for long term stabling.
“Local residents have often sought alternative less convenient stabling to provide certainty, although the stables remain a viable concern with
four tenants currently in place from Durrington and neighbouring villages even on short-term notice contracts.”
A total of 40 people put their names on the application form. To view it in full and to find out more, see wiltshire.gov.uk and search reference ACV/2025/00013.
200 Years of British Marine Painting
Thursday 6 November · Arundells
An illustrated talk by a Woolley & Wallis Expert
Piano Recital: Clara Rodriguez
Thursday 13 November · Arundells
The acclaimed Venezuelan pianist returns
Margaret Thatcher: Iain Dale
Friday 14 November · Salisbur y Museum
A f resh look at Thatcher ’ s legacy
Swing into Christmas
Sunday 14 December · Arundells
Uplifting jazz, swing, and blues
was never alone when my mum held my
I’m leaving a gift in my Will so the children and families
I’m leaving a gift in my Will so the children and families at Julia’s House will always have someone holding their hand, providing care, comfort and support.
Write your Will for FREE using our Free Wills Service, simply visit juliashouse.org/alwaysthere Registered Charity No. 1067125
Ziggy’s Story
Ziggy’s Story
Eight-year-old
Eight-year-old Ziggy is a whirlwind of giggles and into absolutely everything.
Ziggy is a whirlwind of giggles and into absolutely everything.
Ziggy has an ultrarare genetic condition called infantile hyperoxaluria type 1. Less than 20 years ago, Ziggy’s condition would not have been treatable but medical advances have given him a chance at childhood.
Ziggy has an ultrarare genetic condition called infantile hyperoxaluria type 1. Less than 20 years ago, Ziggy’s condition would not have been treatable but medical advances have given him a chance at childhood.
“The nurses at Julia’s House understand what we’re going through, says Ziggy’s mum Jackie. They give me that little bit of strength to keep going. To be honest, I don’t know where we’d be without them.”
“The nurses at Julia’s House understand what we’re going through, says Ziggy’s mum Jackie. They give me that little bit of strength to keep going. To be honest, I don’t know where we’d be without them.”
Could you help us always be there for children like Ziggy by leaving a gift in your Will to Julia’s House? To find out how visit juliashouse.org/alwaysthere
Could you help us always be there for children like Ziggy by leaving a gift in your Will to Julia’s House?
To find out how visit juliashouse.org/alwaysthere
Horse left after crash
ADRIVER left a horse to die after hitting it with their car in the New Forest.
Police said a blue Ford was heading towards Godshill near Fordingbridge at 11.45am on September 23 when it hit an 18-year-old Shetland Cross called Truffles.
They said the driver veered onto the opposite side of the road and then drove through bushes before continuing in direction of Fordingbridge, leaving the animal to die despite the law requiring people to report the incident.
The car had animal hair under the nearside wheel arch and its headlight was also broken, the debris of which was recovered by police, pictured above.
“All New Forest cattle, ponies pigs sheep and donkeys are owned by commoners and are property and if involved in collisions need to reported so that incidents can be investigated and animals dealt with humanely to avoid suffering,” a spokesperson for New Forest Police said.
They said it was the second fatal animal collision on the Roger Penny Way in 24 hours.
Anyone who can help with the investigation should contact Fordingbridge Police on 101, using reference 44250431080.
Nurses' awards
TWO
dermatology clinical nurse specialists in Salisbury have been recognised for their exceptional work with a special award.
Sharon Osment and Gail Buchanan both won this year’s Patient Experience Award at the recent Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Staff Awards ceremony.
To win the award, staff are nominated not just by colleagues, but also patients and the public for making a significant impact upon improving the patient experience, either for an individual patient in their work department, or for the wider trust.
Both Sharon and Gail were praised for their “exceptional dedication” over the past year to establish new clinics aimed at reducing patient wait times, supporting both junior and senior staff, and introducing new services to enhance patient care.
Helen Whatsley, lead nurse in dermatology, who nominated them, said: “This nomination recognises an instance where they went above and beyond in their roles, fulfilling the hospital values and helping change a patient’s life.
“By recognising the patient’s complex needs, facilitating access to essential resources, coordinating treatment delivery, and offering unwavering support, Sharon and Gail exemplified extraordinary dedication.
“Their genuine compassion and commitment to patient wellbeing is evident, and made a profound difference in this patient’s ongoing health journey.”
Managing director, Nick Johnson, said: “The staff awards are a significant and meaningful part of our annual calendar. It is very gratifying to see our local community enthusiastically participating in the nominations.
“This award offers our staff as well as patients and the public the opportunity to offer their appreciation for our professional, hardworking and committed people. It also bolsters our commitment to provide compassionate care for our patients.”
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Sharon Osment and Gail Buchannan with award presenters Louise Hall and Bev Moulding, of the Stars Appeal Fundraising Committee
Picture: Inez Szczepanska
Date for your Diary Wednesday 15th October TRIUMPH BRA FITTING DAY
Triumph representative in store.
7 out of 10 are wearing the wrong size bra are you one of them?
All our lingerie staff are trained bra fitters and are in store every day. On Wednesday 15th October we have a Triumph representative joining our team for the day to answer any of your questions or problems.
Store assault appeal
We are also promoting Wear it Pink Breast Cancer Now in October. We have a super hamper £1 ticket to raise money for Wear It Pink – with a chance to win a Triumph Bra, Soak Wash, and other goodies.
With sizes 30AA – 48K and all this new season’s arrivals they choice is endless. We also have Anita mastectomy bras, sports bras and lots lots more.
We look forward to seeing you.
- Shirley and her team.
POLICE are appealing to the public for information following a sexual assault at a shop in Amesbury.
The force said a man sexually assaulted a woman in the B&M store, in London Road, at around 9.55am on September 24.
They have now released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the sexual assault.
Anyone with information, or who recognises the person pictured, should contact police by email to 70366@wiltshire. police.uk.
FASHIONS & LINGERIE
Walk for Wards raises whopping
£167,000
for hospital Stars Appeal
It was a record-breaking year for participants at the Walk for Wards event
Pictures: Mark Bastick/Simon Ward
WALK
for Wards – the Stars Appeal fundraiser for Salisbury Hospital – broke records, raising almost £167,000 for the cause.
The event, the 20th running of Walk for Wards, saw more than 2,000 people take part in a charity trek at Wilton House on July 6.
And now the counting is done, the total has been revealed – with £166,946 raised.
Participants walked 3k, 5k,10k or the new 15k route to thank Salisbury District Hospital for the care they or their family have received, with some dedicating their walk in memory of a friend, parent, sibling or child.
As part of the celebrations, walkers also enjoyed live entertainment from local musicians while picnicking on the lawns.
Chair of the Stars Appeal Ambassadors and consultant surgeon, Graham Branagan, said: “This record-breaking total is a testament to the incredible support and generosity of our local community.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who took
part, sponsored somebody, volunteered, or helped organise Walk for Wards for making the 20th event so special.
“The money raised helps us provide the very best care for thousands of patients and their families across the hospital.”
This year’s event surpassed the £150,051 raised in 2024 and the record-breaking £157,922 raised in 2023.
Money raised from the sponsored walk will go towards the £2 million Stars Appeal effort to fund equipment, enhancements to buildings, and ongoing projects across the hospital.
To date, Walk for Wards has raised more than £1.5 million, which has helped fund projects across Salisbury Hospital including the hospital’s first dedicated Breast Unit, a new Children’s Unit, Cardiac Suite and family accommodation on the Neonatal Unit, as well as state-of-the-art equipment such as additional scanners.
n Walk for Wards 2026 takes place on Sunday, July 5. To find out more and register for free, visit starsappeal.org/event/ walk-for-wards.
Ancient ceremony sees choristers get bumped off welcome them to team!
ATRADITION
stretching back hundreds of years took place at Salisbury Cathedral earlier this month as promoted and new choristers were celebrated.
The ‘bumping ceremony’ originally saw new choristers have their head bumped gently on a stone in the South Quire Aisle of the Cathedral by the senior choristers whilst a welcome is chanted by the choir.
The ceremony took place so many times that the stone itself was rumoured to have been worn away due to the hundreds of heads that blessed it.
Nowadays, the stone has been replaced with a large prayer book which is gently bumped on the head with a large prayer book seven times by the
senior choristers, whilst reciting a chant welcoming them.
This was the case during Evensong on September 13, as the cathedral promoted its senior chorister as well as admitting new choristers from probationer, trainee chorister, to full chorister.
Harriet Edney, Phoebe Geary, Alice Griffin, Carys Hooper, Matilda Macmillan and Daisy Mills were promoted to senior choristers for their final year in the girls’ choir, by The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, and Precentor Canon Anna Macham.
Probationers Arabella Luck and Phoebe Yuan-Richards were also admitted into the choir during the special Evensong service.
And the celebrations continued last Saturday (September 20) as Vinnie Harris, George Johnson and Kieran Zhu were promoted to senior chorister in the boys’ choir, and Joseph Al Hashimi, Peter Hooper and Sebastian Jarvis were admitted into the choir as full choristers, joining older siblings Carys Hooper and Samuel Jarvis in the choirs.
David Halls, director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, said: “It is always a joy to celebrate the commitment of our senior choristers, as well as to recognise the hard work our probationers have put in as they progress to full chorister.
“As our choristers grow and move on to secondary schools, we continue to seek out young talent to carry forward the
choral tradition of Cathedral music, ensuring that this treasured legacy lives on with each new generation.”
Anyone who has a child who loves to sing is encouraged to book a place at Salisbury Cathedral’s free annual event Be a Chorister for a Day, where children in Years 2, 3 and 4 can experience what it is like to be a chorister, meet the current choristers and enjoy singing in a special Evensong service.
n To register for the free event and begin a child’s musical journey, fill in the application form on salisburycathedral.org.uk or for more information, email Salisbury Cathedral’s music officer, Hester Greatrix, via h. greatrix@salcath.co.uk.
The 'bumping ceremony' tradition stretches back hundreds of years
Pictures: Picture: Max Willcock BNPS/Finnbarr Webster
Events
Panto season is coming oh yes it is!
THEfull cast of this year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk in Salisbury has been revealed.
Directed by Gareth Machin and written by Plested, Brown and Wilsher, the panto is at Salisbury Playhouse from November 29 to January 11.
Embark on an awesome adventure as Jack sets out on a daring mission to rescue Dolly the Cow. Can our happy-golucky hero triumph over the music-hating giant?
Can he and the Fairy Fabulous King of Rock and Roll restore the joy of singing to Salisburyshire? And will Jack ever win Jill’s heart?
The classic tale will be sprinkled in with Salisbury magic by the writers and designers of last year’s awardwinning pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
George Olney (Chicago UK Tour, Mamma Mia on West End) will star as happy-go-
lucky milkman Jack. George returns to Salisbury Playhouse after his roles in Cinderella (2022) and A Chorus of Disapproval (2024).
Isabella Mason (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK Tour) will play sassy singer and Jack’s love interest Jill.
Eloise Runnette (Sister Act UK Tour) will play Dolly the Cow.
Thomas Sutcliffe (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Wicked) will play Jill’s Dad and Salisburyshire’s famous if
reclusive opera star, Pavarotti Perkins.
Emma Norman (The Pirate Queen on West End) will play Fleshcreep, the fun-hating villain and right-hand woman to the giant.
After their performance in Wiltshire Creative’s 2024/25 pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, Nic James will return as Fairy Fabulous, The Fairy King of Rock and Roll.
Onstage swings, Bella Donald and Brandon Thompson also make a welcome return.
Set and costume designer, Katie Lias, is also returning to Salisbury Playhouse for Jack and the Beanstalk.
This comes after she won ‘Best Costume Design’ at the 2025 UK Pantomime Awards for Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty was also nominated for Best Set Design, designed by Katie Lias, and Best Pantomime (500-900 seats).
Returning to Salisbury will
be lighting designer Nic Farman, joined by Wiltshire Creative’s very own sound designer Michael Scott, choreographer Julia Cave, and musical director Daniel Looseley, with casting completed by casting director Natalie Gallagher CDG.
Full cast: George Olney (Jack), Nic James (Fairy Fabulous), Isabella Mason (Jill), Emma Norman (Fleshcreep), Eloise Runnette (Dolly the Cow), Dan Smith (Dame Caroline Trotter), Thomas Sutcliffe (Pavarotti Perkins), Bella Donald (Onstage Swing), Brandon Thompson (Onstage Swing).
Writers: Plested, Brown and Wilsher; director: Gareth Machin; designer: Katie Lias; lighting designer: Nic Farman; sound designer: Michael Scott; choreographer: Julia Cave, musical director: Daniel Looseley, casting director: Natalie Gallacher CDG.
QUIZ NIGHT
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Roast Turkey Breast with Pigs in Blankets, Chestnut & Orange stuffing, Roast Potatoes & Gravy Fillet Steak with Oyster Mushrooms, Gratin, Dauphinoise & Drambuie Sauce
Our own Smoked Haddock set on Creamed Leeks, Parmentier Potatoes, topped with a poached Egg & Hollandaise Sauce
Miso & Tamari Celeriac Steak served on a butter bean mash & Red Onion Gravy
Available from Thursday 4th Dec to Wednesday 24th of Dec (excluding Sundays).
Starters
Honey Roast Partridge Breast with Celeriac Gratin, Chestnuts, Fig & Port Jus Panko Breaded Tiger Prawns
Marinated in Thai Spices, Pomegranate seeds & Confit Garlic Aioli
Smoked Cheddar Souffle with Candied Walnuts, Apple Crisps & Parmesan Cream
Cream of Mushroom Soup with Crème Fraiche & Chervil
All served with Roast Roost Vegetables, Brussel Sprouts & Red Cabbage
Desserts
Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding with Honeycomb & salted Caramel Custard Cheese & Biscuits
Selection of Ice Creams & Sorbets (3 scoops)
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Three-day celebration of early music
ANEW three-day celebration of early music is coming to Salisbury this October.
Salisbury Musick Festival has been organised by four local musicians who are sharing their passion for music composed before 1775 and performed on period instruments.
Concerts by local ensembles, as well as performances by visiting experts, talks, and events for children will all take place in the city from October 3 to 5.
The new festival pays homage to the city’s cultural and musical history, as Salisbury used to host music festivals from around 1700 to 1780 each year, which featured some of the most prominent musicians of the time.
This includes JC Bach who performed in the city, and the concerts were of national significance, rivalling those taking place in London and Bath.
Nigel Wyatt, one of the organisers said: “After we had planned the dates for the new festival we’re launching, we then discovered that it was almost exactly 250 years to the day that the festival in 1775 happened in Salisbury.
“When we realised this coincidence, we thought it was meant to be.”
Nigel will give a talk as part of the festival, shedding light on the events of 1775 and the
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Music Trust Concerts
history of the music festivals in Salisbury, which were probably the earliest music festivals in the country.
Another organiser, Miranda Dodd, is keen to involve audiences of all ages and experience.
“I love early music, and it’s a joy to share that passion with a wider audience,” she said. “Inspiring the next generation is especially important to me, which is
why we’ve invited young performers to join us in two of our concerts.
“Salisbury has a vibrant music community, and it’s wonderful to see our local performers and visiting experts sharing their expertise with local people and visitors to the city.”
Events include candlelit concerts in the medieval hall, providing an opportunity to step back in time for an hour of intimate music.
The finale of the festival will be a gala concert performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor, described by many as the greatest choral work ever composed.
Meanwhile, for younger visitors, Concerts for Tots will help celebrate all the fun of the festival and explore the wonders of baroque music.
n Details and booking information is available at salisburymusick.org.uk.
Volunteering
Trustees' Week is a chance to recognise unsung role
Wessex Community Action is the council for voluntary services in Wiltshire and provides practical support for community organisations on funding, governance, planning, policy development, recruiting and leadership. This monthly volunteering column looks at all aspects of volunteering and how people can give up their time for the benefit of their communities.
NEXTmonth sees Trustees’ Week (November 3 to 7) providing a chance to celebrate the vital role trustees play in keeping charities and voluntary groups on track – and navigating their course ahead.
Wiltshire has around 5,000 registered charities and it’s likely that they’ll need at least 30,000 trustees giving their time to support them – contributing well over 150,000 hours of voluntary effort every week. It shows governance isn’t just a tick-box exercise – it’s one of the most impactful forms of volunteering to be happening in our communities.
Wiltshire’s former Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, has been a trustee, on and off, for Wiltshire Community Foundation for almost 20 years and Chair for the last three. He is standing down as Chair this month but will continue as a trustee
He believes the number of charities in the county, and their requirement for governance, places an enduring pressure on them to recruit candidates – and could be a reason why he and many of his contemporaries have been in place so long.
He says: “On a personal level, you've almost got to do this for so many years, but on the other hand, there’s no one coming up to take your place.”
He believes charities and voluntary groups have to be flexible in accommodating potential trustees who have busy lives if they want to fill those berths and attract a broad range of skills. “I've got a couple of trusteeships and they always meet in the day, and I think to myself, ‘well, that's ruled out people who work’,” he says. “Maybe that's what flexible time is all about.
“As a chair, I’ve tried to rotate things a little bit or put
things on at about half past four to half past six so people could get away from work early and still get home in time to put the kids to bed. But it’s really difficult and what suits one person doesn’t suit another.”
He says another factor in the difficulty groups find in recruiting trustees is the cost of taking time off from work or travelling across the county. Additionally, by unconsciously eliminating potential trustees who can’t afford to do it, they could be depriving their boards of people with a variety of experience and perspective.
“I've always been keen as a trustee to claim my expenses, especially out of county, for everything and then donating it back as Gift Aid,” he says. “That enables the charity to show what its true costs are and it also doesn’t put off others who think, ‘no one ever claims any expenses so I won't join
because I can't afford it’.
“I thought at first, it's not something you shout about greatly, but I think it’s another part of the problem of being a trustee.
“But I've been in a very lucky position where I’ve been able to do it and I enjoy supporting the causes that I'm involved in.”
WCA’s free community portal, Wiltshire Together, has listing of volunteering opportunities in Wiltshire, including trusteeships. Sign up and search local opportunities at wiltshiretogether.org.uk.
WCA works with charities and groups to recruit trustees, as well as help them support their training and development. To find out more about its training and support, contact Volunteer and Community Development Advisor Stacey Sims at community@ wessexcommunityaction.org.uk.
Angus Macpherson has been a trustee at Wiltshire Community Foundation for more than 20 years
Sporting items up for auction
CLARKE'S Auctions in Gillingham are holding their next Antiques & Collectables sale on Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11 and their viewing days are the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
They will be selling a large quantity of antique Hunting and Sporting related items from a local private estate and this will include silver trophies and other equestrian related items.
Some of the lots on offer are a large silver salver engraved for the Wylie Valley Hunt Point to Point Races dated 1924, a large silver trophy cup engraved for the Portman Hunt Races dated 21st March 1928 and presented by The Earl of Shaftesbury and an impressive Art Nouveau Walker & Hall silver twin handled pedestal dish of hexagonal form.
From the same consignment is a large quantity of hunting and sporting related paintings, lithograph prints and first edition books by Cecil Alden, Lionel Edwards and Snaffles (Charles Johnson Payne). They are taking entries for this and all future sales
including their three-day Christmas sale being held between Christmas and New Year and if you have anything that you would like to enter or get advice on values please give them a call to arrange a home visit or a visit to their salerooms in Gillingham.
n For any Probate Valuations, Insurance Valuations or Full or Part House Clearances please phone either Richard Clarke or Karen Marshall, on 01747 685592, at the salerooms at The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road, Gillingham, SP8 4QF.
& Collectibles
Friday 9th & Saturday 10th August
Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th and Friday10th
An original Fry & Sons 'Fry's Pure Concentrated Cocoa' enamel sign. Sold for £1,600.
An Omega 18ct gold chronograph wristwatch. Estimate £1500-1800.
Next Sale Friday 10th & Saturday 11th October Viewing Days The Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk
Clarke’s Auctions o er free home visits and verbal valuations. Now accepting items for this and future sales e Old Glove Factory, Buckingham Road Gillingham, SP8 4QF 01747 685592 enquiries@clarkesauctions.co.uk
A George VI Walker & Hall silver twinhandled trophy cup, with an estimate of £500 - £600
Home & Garden
Preparing for next year – compost heaps
by Sally Gregson
WITH autumn and winter fast approaching, most gardeners’ thoughts turn to tidying up and cutting back the herbaceous beds and borders. All that top-growth is a precious resource for a gardener with a compost heap or three.
The onset of autumn is a good time to start constructing them in a quiet corner of the garden. Each should be at least a cubic metre in dimension. Research has found that smaller heaps do not work properly.
And if you have room for three bins, use one to put on the garden, one to rot down and one to fill with material for composting.
Ideally that material should comprise:
n Green garden cuttings, not too many woody pieces, and cut up smaller than the width of the heap
n Uncooked vegetable waste
n Annual weeds that are not seeding
n The tops of perennial weeds with their seedheads and roots
cut off
n Grass cuttings mixed with any of the above
n Fallen leaves
n Torn-up newspapers and brown paper
And should not include:
n Perennial weeds –
dandelions, docks, bindweed, ground elder etc
n Seeding weeds
n Meat and fish scraps and bones – which just attract rats
n Coal ash – although wood ash in moderation is fine
n Diseased plants
n Animal litter
n Plastic – such as nappies
n Glossy magazines
And the heap may well need watering in very dry weather.
Ale lovers in the family could be advised to recycle their beer onto the heap – uric acid is the main constituent of commercial compost accelerators.
A cubic metre of compost will take several months to rot down to the texture of Christmas cake, so by early spring it will be ready to dress the borders in the garden.
There is never enough to go round, so prioritise the vegetable garden, and once we have had enough rain, put it on the sunny garden.
Not only will homemade compost add lots of nutrients, it will improve the texture of the soil.
Next year, come rain or shine, the border soil will be in good heart, and ready to withstand constant downpours or another drought.
Or, it is hoped, just a ‘normal’ English summer.
Hyacinths to chase away the dark days of winter
by Sally Gregson
IT seems such an exaggeration to call what we do to persuade hyacinths and other early bulbs, ‘forcing’. They hardly need any encouragement to grow and flower. It’s the flowering time that we try and control.
In early December supermarkets and garden centres like to sell hyacinth that are at just the right stage to open their flowers at around Christmas-time, but for any other coloured hyacinths, or any other bulbs, it’s up to the gardener to prepare them.
They could be ‘forced’ into flower at the darkest time of year when the Christmas festivities are over, spring is far away and there can seem so little to gladden the heart.
Prepare the pots by midOctober using ordinary potting compost. Place the bulbs close together without touching, with their pointy tops showing by
about 1-2cm above the soil line. Water the pots thoroughly, drain them and place them in a cold, dark place – about 35 centigrade – for at least 12 weeks. If the bulbs start to pull themselves out of the soil in the meantime, gently push them back and put on a layer of grit to weight them down without covering them entirely. Grow the bulbs on until the shoots have reached about 2.5cm, then move them to a light, cool but frost-free spot. A spare bedroom windowsill is ideal. They will flower within days of being brought into the warmth.
Other bulbs can be treated similarly. Little pots of diminutive Iris danfordiae start flowering very early in the year. Try I. h. ‘George’ with huge purple and green flowers, or I. reticulata ‘Harmony’ in a delicate pale blue with a good perfume. All have very short stems and want to flower early.
Seasonal offerings at gardener's new nursery are proving popular
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The nursery was created by award-winning garden designer, Robert Kennett
SHOPPERS
at The Guild in Wilton can visit a new small plant nursery which is showcasing seasonal plants.
Resident award-winning garden designer Robert Kennett created the specialist Genesis Plants nursery next door to the café at The Guild.
Robert, who offers a full range of garden design and planting services as Genesis Gardens, says the plants he chooses offer a more threedimensional appeal.
“Garden centre plants can be mass produced and more about what the suppliers want to offer, or varieties that are easiest to grow,” he said.
“My approach is to offer a
select range of plants that I believe offer something special, whether that is their colour, texture, form or long flowering season.”
Genesis Plants will also be offering a select range of vintage, antique and ancient artifacts from local firm Owtside In, such as stone bird baths, pots, and planters.
Over the past 24 years Robert has designed gardens for hundreds of private clients as well as sensory gardens for schools, wheelchair accessible gardens, and even a commission for the National Trust.
Genesis Plants is open 9.30am to 4pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm weekends.
Actively pursuing active travel...
OVERthe last two months, I have focused on understanding how we can help our local community hubs and in encouraging Council progress on Salisbury's Foot and Cycle Path Network.
Supporting Community Hubs I've visited and spoken with the leadership at key Harnham community hubs, including the City Council Communities Team, Harnham Memorial Hall, Harnham Parish Hall, Harnham Sports & Social Club, and the Underground Studios in the Harnham Bunker. This has provided a valuable understanding of their services, aspirations, and where Salisbury and Wiltshire Councils (SCC & WC) can offer support. A key focus is determining how money (Section 106 and CIL) provided by housing developers can be directed to support these pillar organizations that do such good for our community.
Pursuing Active Travel
Delivery
Cllr Andrew SuddardsConservative councillor for West Harnham Salisbury City Council
The second, and more challenging, focus has been pressuring Wiltshire Council (WC) to deliver on its promises for the Salisbury Foot and Cycle Path Network. While the LibDem controlling Administration frequently champions active travel - citing green, physical, and mental benefits, and acknowledging that road building alone won't solve congestion - the actual delivery remains frustratingly slow.
Active travel sentiments are
clearly articulated in the WC Transport Plan 4 and the recently finalized Salisbury LCWIP (Local Cycle and Walking Improvement Plan). However, many glossy strategies like this are developed over
a long period only to proceed at a glacial pace, with targets often vaguely defined then later skipped over.
I am determined to stop the Salisbury LCWIP from entering this same "doom loop." The three-year Short Term Delivery Phase is over a year in, yet little visible progress has been made.
I am actively pressing the WC Transport Team through various forums - the Cycle Liaison Panel, LHFIG Committee, and Salisbury Area Board - to publish a clear list of what has been achieved and what is
scheduled for delivery within these near-term priorities. My "jury is out" on whether good clarity will emerge.
Naturally I'm keenly interested in projects vital to Harnham's growing community, such as the Town Path and Netherhampton Road improvements, but I also want to see Salisbury-wide progress.
Pleasingly, a door may be opening to re-consider the long-desired walking/cycle bridge connecting West Harnham and Churchfields. This short, vital link would create a fantastic new active transport route in a currently poorly served area, avoiding the protected Nadder Island Area. I look forward to formally proposing this idea at the Cycle Liaison Panel in December, working with COGS, residents to actually coalesce on a tangible solution, that is affordable, practical and one that will actually be realised.
What an Orwellian future we're facing
I’Mwriting this on the weekend betwixt and between the Liberal conference in Brighton on the south coast and the Labour one in Liverpool on the north west coast. It’s not just the fact that they are holding them on the coast that makes them similar.
"There must be something in the (Coastal) Water", as the saying goes.
For you could be forgiven for thinking they have something else in common, not their policies but the number of times they mention Reform.
The Reform party seems to be not only leading in the polls but leading the agenda of everyone else, and remember I am writing this before the Labour conference, but the writing is most definitely on the wall.
Labour, like the Liberals before them, shall throw
King Arthur PendragonFormer and proposed Independent Parliamentary candidate for Salisbury
everything including the proverbial kitchen sink at the Reform party.
For my part, I have never been fan of Reform, and my claim to fame, well one of them anyway, is that the first time I ran in a general election, I embarrassed the BMP (a previous incarnation?) into last place.
But they must be getting their message across in ways that worry the other parties, or why else all the attention?
The Labour plan (second incarnation after Tony Blair’s failed attempt) to bring in digital ID cards to help 'Stop the Boats' is doomed to fail in any such attempt to appease Reform and followed to its conclusion after
Mission Creep, as the plan stands, to link all Government departments could result in a trip to the supermarket where it’s not so much unexpected item in the bagging area as restricted item in the shopping trolley or basket.
You won’t be able to buy tobacco or alcohol products if you are on benefits. You won’t be able to exceed your chocolate quota if the NHS reports you as overweight. And don’t try and exceed your coffee quota if the
algorithm says you cannot have any more stimulants due to the one-in-a-million chance of heart failure.
Connecting and centralising all our data can and will in future have so many unforeseen (by some) and very much foreseen, consequences by others.
But alas, it’s most likely going to happen, and all we may do is likened to the tunnel at Stonehenge - hold them off at the pass for as long as we can.
Just as we stopped the tunnel every time they re-hashed the same idea, so too shall we have to oppose the introduction of digital ID every time they bring it up.
Or, think it through, what an Orwellian future we have in store, and I do not mean the futuristic one where we cannot spend our future cashless credits.
Mayor's cycle boosts active travel
ITis very long time since I last took to the road on two wheels, but last Sunday, I joined a large group of enthusiastic cyclists gathered in the Market Square for the Mayor’s Ride to promote active travel cycle in Salisbury.
With some apprehension, and a after a wobbly start, I thoroughly enjoyed this annual event organised by the Cycling Opportunities Group (COGS).
The Mayor’s Ride was confined to a relatively short (and remarkably flat!) route around the town centre, but the sight of approximately 30 hi-viz clad cyclists of all ages certainly drew attention to the pleasure of cycling in our city.
COGS has almost 200 members, united by shared a passion, for the pleasure of cycling, but also a desire to promote active travel in Salisbury.
I certainly enjoyed my short ride around the city, and being part of such a large group, gave
Cllr John Wells is an independent Salisbury City Councillor for St Francis and Stratford and a Wiltshire Councillor, as well as mayor of Salisbury
me the confidence to venture out amongst the traffic and other road users.
The event was clearly a success in promoting cycling, but the COGS members are a sociable, friendly and welcoming group.
It was also a great
opportunity for me to chat to a diverse group of residents about all kinds of things, including their experiences of cycling in the city, walking routes, and Wiltshire Community Transport.
I was pleased to be joined by fellow Salisbury City Councillors Al Bayliss, Jeremy Nettle, Richard Johnson, Phil Beavan, Sam Foster and Chris Taylor, reflecting a commitment by our council to active travel.
I would like to thank COGS chair Rob Jacobs for lending my wife and I two of his bicycles and safety helmets to enable us to participate in the event.
I had along chat with Rob, who is clearly passionate about COGS, and heard about their aims and a commitment to make our city a safer, cleaner and more accessible place for everyone, including cyclists.
Annual Membership of COGS is £5 for adults, £2 for under 16s.
Benefits include discounts at Hayball and Stonehenge Cycles, regular weekly group rides and other events.
Sounds like a good deal to me if you enjoy cycling!
Have your say over 26/27 council budget
PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on how Wiltshire Council prioritises spending in the next financial year.
Ahead of the 2026/27 budget, the authority is seeking views on where spending should go, with a series of drop-in sessions running this month.
"Local authority budgets are under greater scrutiny and pressure than ever before due to increasing demand for services, particularly the high demand for adults' services, children's social care and SEND," a spokesperson said.
"The budget has been further impacted by the ongoing financial pressures,
including continuing higher levels of inflation and changes to Employers National Insurance rates, introduced after the current year's budget was set."
Seven interactive sessions, from October 8 to 30, will give people the opportunity to talk to the Leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Ian Thorn, and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Gavin Grant, to give their views on how the council should prioritise its spending.
Cllr Grant said: "Next year we face increasing demand for both adult and children's services driven by a combination of more people needing complex care and market constraints amid a
backdrop of unpredictable inflation rates and national budget challenges.
"While we are taking decisive steps to manage increasing demands, we want to hear people's views on how they think we should prioritise spending in 2026/27, so that this can inform how we invest in key services and programmes to ensure we continue to deliver quality services that meet the need of our residents, businesses and communities as well as good value for money for Wiltshire taxpayers."
Drop-in sessions are taking place on:
October 8, 2pm–4pm: Devizes Leisure centre, Southbroom
Road, SN10 5AB October 13, 1pm–7pm: County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN October 16, 10am–noon: Westbury Library, Westbury House, 15 Edward Street, BA13 3BD
October 16, 3.30pm–5.30pm: Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre, Hulse Road, Salisbury, SP1 3NR
October 22, 10am–noon: Royal Wooton Bassett Library, Borough Fields, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AX October 22, 3pm–5pm: Calne Community Campus, White Horse Way, Calne, SN11 0SP
October 30, 10am–noon: The Nadder Centre, Weaveland Road, Tisbury, SP3 6HJ
Crossword
Sudoku 3D puzzle
Cryptic crossword
Across
1 Attack sharply tiny rogue in US city circle (3,4)
Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.
Killer Sudoku Pro
5 Governor, some chap as happens (5)
9 Firm politician with skill accepts advice largely showing consistency (13)
10 Be subject to rude line at work (8)
11 Smear expert around university (4)
12 One investigating film on city trader initially in seedy bar (9)
16 Austere period permitted around November (4)
Down
2 Acacia initially over spring gets to proliferate (6)
3 Troublemaker with fellows in rental property produces tool (9)
4 Small drink followed by a litre in sum (5)
6 Trouble in railway (3)
7 House with barrel overturned provides large bath (3,3)
8 Mind target (6)
17 Enduring type wrong about Thailand (8)
19 Make a distinction after definite reforms (13)
21 Article on revolutionary financial backer (5)
22 British sailor only confused in decadent place (7)
Killer Sudoku Pro Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.
11 Suited professionals with appeal close to many showing variety (9)
13 Arab chieftain hosting first of guests, European exile (6)
14 Kindly guide’s lead in African country (6)
15 Articles proving worthless also in military parade (6)
18 Scottish jockey’s obsessive behaviour (5)
20 Provide nourishment endlessly for payment (3)
produces tool (9)
Small drink followed by a litre in sum (5)
Trouble in railway (3) 7 House with barrel overturned provides large bath (3,3)
Mind target (6) 11 Suited professionals with appeal close to many showing variety (9)
Arab chieftain hosting first of guests, European exile (6) 14 Kindly guide’s lead in African country (6) 15 Articles proving worthless also in military parade (6)
18 Scottish jockey’s obsessive behaviour (5) 20 Provide nourishment endlessly for payment (3)
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Majority or motorists back 'alcolocks'
MORE than half of motorists (53%) want to see the Government allow courts to order anyone convicted of drink-driving to have ‘alcolocks’ fitted to their vehicles to prevent them reoffending, a new RAC study has found.
However, almost a quarter (23%) of 1,763 drivers surveyed didn’t think the introduction of the breathalyser devices – which prevent a vehicle being started if there is any alcohol in the offender’s breath – would reduce drink-driving.
Data from a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA made by the Press Association suggests a significant number of drinkdrive offences are committed by reoffenders.
There are various options for
the use of ‘alcolocks’ – or alcohol-interlocks as they are properly known.
More than half (56%) of drivers supportive of alcoholinterlocks were in favour of all offenders having the devices fitted to prevent them driving under the influence again.
Comparatively, just 39% thought they should only be used with drivers who had been caught on at least one previous occasion.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Too many lives are lost and ruined by drinkdriving. It’s also very apparent that many of the drink-drivers caught by the police are reoffenders which implies something different needs to be done to change this dangerous behaviour.
“Drivers have told us they
believe that alcohol-interlocks – either just for repeat drinkdrivers or for everyone convicted of the offence – could be a good way of reducing drink-drive collisions and the resulting deaths and injuries which are currently far too high.
“We are aware that their use may be seen as a soft option by some, but experience from other countries suggests the opposite. Simply banning habitual drink-drivers doesn’t seem to be the answer even though they face a prison sentence, as all too often they just get behind the
wheel again anyway.
“Currently the only options for courts are disqualification from driving, ordering convicted drink-drivers to attend rehabilitation courses and custodial sentences for reoffenders.
"Court orders that mandate alcohol-interlocks to prevent reoffending could be worth exploring in a trial.
"We hope the Government considers this in the forthcoming road safety strategy being produced by the Department for Transport.”
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(from pages 28-29)
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