Michael Ribbeck

The Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation is offering grants of up to £1,000 to 14- to 24-year-olds in Wiltshire and Swindon who are studying or planning to study vocational courses or apprenticeships. Applicants must meet income and residency or care-related eligibility criteria. Grants can fund equipment, educational resources, IT devices, study trips and some travel costs. A student named Liam said funding for a laptop and steel toe-capped shoes helped him complete his coursework and progress in his courses. Applications for the academic year beginning September 2026 close on October 16, 2026.

The Wiltshire Times presents five recent death notices and funeral announcements for Cedric Connor, Sally Ann Rose, Albert 'John' Hooper, Linette Burrell and Gloria Joy Hervin. The notices include family tributes, dates and ages at death, and funeral details, with links to the full notices and options for readers to send condolences or place a notice.

The West of England Youth Orchestra will perform at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon on August 29 at 7:30 p.m. The programme includes Brahms’ Double Concerto in A minor, Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony and Matthew Aucoin’s Heath, with violinist David Adams, cellist Alice Neary and conductor Tim Redmond participating. Tickets cost £10 to £20.

Business owners in Bradford-on-Avon are invited to a networking event for owner-managed businesses at Cumberwell Park Golf Club on August 12, 2026. Organized by Your Mastermind Group, the £25 event will focus on exchanging practical ideas and discussing business issues including time management, leadership, profit and recruitment. Refreshments will be provided, and attendees can share contact details and access a delegate list to support ongoing networking.

A free, fully inclusive one-day Press Play Music Course for instrumentalists and vocalists aged 15 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities will take place at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on August 12, 2026. The course will include specialist workshops, open jam sessions, collaboration, and an optional performance, with free tickets available to book online.

Wiltshire Council has announced a series of partial road closures across more than 15 roads during August and September to enable repairs and infrastructure works by utility companies, contractors and the council. Closures will last from several hours to as long as ten days, with diversions in place and access to homes and businesses maintained, although delays are expected. Affected areas include Great Bedwyn, Ramsbury, Shalbourne, Bremhill, Chirton, Broad Hinton, Castle Combe, Hullavington, Clyffe Pypard, Baydon and Crudwell.

Trowbridge Town Council has replaced the town’s remaining analogue CCTV cameras with a high-definition digital network. The upgrade improves image clarity, low-light performance and coverage across public spaces, increasing the number of camera feeds from 27 to 66. The system is monitored by trained operators and is intended to deter crime and antisocial behaviour, support police investigations and reduce response times while complying with surveillance, privacy and data-protection requirements.

WOMAD returned to Neston Park near Corsham after a one-year hiatus, attracting 30,000 fans and 460 performers from 38 countries. Despite a smaller, more compact site and revised stage layouts, attendees praised the festival's diverse international music, family-friendly atmosphere, logistical arrangements and interactive arts and wellness activities. Highlights included performances by Barrington Levy, the Ta Dhom Project, Acido Pantera and Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, while late-night events continued until 4am. Tickets for the 2027 festival are already on sale, with weekend passes starting at £202.50.

Melksham-based architectural firm Macey’s Architectural Design & Development Ltd (MADD) has been named Architectural Design Service of the Year at the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2025/26. The award, presented at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, is the firm’s third major industry honour. Judges praised MADD’s technical depth, collaborative approach, sustainable design principles and ability to handle complex planning, environmental, heritage and flood-zone projects.

Healthwatch Wiltshire’s research into vaccination attitudes and access has informed a county-wide immunisation action plan. The work identified lower uptake among military families, migrants, and Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Boater communities, highlighting risks linked to declining vaccination rates. The plan aims to build trust, improve service access, tailor communications, strengthen workforce capacity, and address health inequalities through greater use of community insight.

Wiltshire-based Archaeologist Guided Tours has been shortlisted for the 2026 British Travel Awards. Founded by PhD-level archaeologists, the company offers expert-led tours of ancient sites including Stonehenge, combining historical interpretation with current research and archaeological debate. Founder Edward Shepherd said the nomination recognised the company’s approach to heritage tourism. With more than 400 five-star reviews, the company is asking the public to vote through the British Travel Awards website.

A jazz jam will be held at the Wellbeing Hub in Warminster on Saturday, August 15, featuring a four-piece house band led by Andy Brittain, Simon Williams, Dave Wallace and Graham Dent. Musicians are invited to join performances spanning swing, bebop, blues, funk, modal and Latin jazz. Entry costs £5, with doors opening at 7pm and music beginning at 8pm; organisers hope to make the event a regular fixture if successful.

The Met Office forecasts a dry, sunny weekend in Wiltshire, with highs of 27°C on Saturday and 28°C on Sunday, light winds and little chance of rain. Its longer-range outlook suggests generally above-average temperatures, potentially very warm or hot conditions in central and southern areas, followed by more changeable weather and an increased chance of rain or showers. High UV levels are expected, while pollen and air pollution levels should remain low.

Eleanor Kendall progressed from receptionist to hearing care assistant and then qualified as a hearing aid audiologist through South West Hearing Care’s higher apprenticeship scheme and a foundation degree at Anglia Ruskin University. Inspired by her great-grandmother’s experience with hearing loss, Kendall now conducts assessments, prescribes hearing aids and advises patients at the practice’s Street and Crewkerne clinics. She received the Starkey Prize for the best overall performance in her student cohort, while South West Hearing Care said her qualification will strengthen its clinical team and help expand patient appointments.

The White Horse Military Show near Bradford on Avon will use more than 200 tonnes of recycled film-set materials to create immersive displays covering 200 years of military history. Produced by South West Living History CIC and led by production designer Rich Dalton, the event will feature military encampments, reenactments, vintage vehicles, battle demonstrations and interactive activities. It is scheduled for August 14–16, 2025, with adult tickets priced from £10 to £15 and free admission for under-18s.

X-Press Legal Services, founded by Linda Mannion in 2006, is marking a major business milestone after supporting more than 30 law firms and hundreds of conveyancing professionals across Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Swindon. The eight-person business recently expanded into Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, hired three employees and moved into purpose-built offices. Mannion’s son Tom also trained with the company before establishing a London office. The franchise provides property searches, data, compliance services and professional-development resources, and has received several company and industry awards.

Nineteen-year-old Trowbridge boxer Ruby White secured at least a bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after defeating Uganda's Angel Katushabe by unanimous decision in the women's 51kg flyweight division. The 2024 Under-19 world champion will face Namibia's Mischa Monique Araes in the semi-final and is aiming for gold. White credited her family, faith and supporters, while emphasizing her use of fight analysis to continue improving.

Wiltshire’s Independent Custody Visiting Scheme has received a silver award from the Independent Custody Visiting Association for its work monitoring detainee welfare, treatment and custody conditions. Fifteen volunteers made 96 unannounced visits over the past year, speaking with about 350 detainees and contributing roughly 160 hours. Their feedback helps Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner identify good practice and areas requiring improvement, while supporting transparency, accountability and public confidence in policing.

Jim McCarty is celebrating 60 years working at the Travis Perkins branch in Trowbridge, having started with James Ladd & Sons in July 1966 at age 16. He continued through the business's acquisitions by Sharpe and Fisher and its later transition to Travis Perkins, completing more than 120 stock takes and becoming a popular figure among colleagues and customers. McCarty says he still enjoys the work and has no plans to retire, while Travis Perkins marketing director Carine Jessamine praised his exceptional commitment and service.

Families in Wiltshire can access a range of summer rail discounts under the Government’s Great British Summer Savings campaign. Offers include £1 fares for children on Southeastern, £2 schemes on c2c and GTR, selected £2 tickets from Greater Anglia, discounted family tickets from LNER and Northern, and low-cost Birmingham–London fares from WM Trains. Additional benefits include free children’s bus travel in August, attraction discounts, and a free TransPennine Express activity book. The measures accompany a rail-fare freeze, expanded contactless ticketing and wider plans to return rail services to public ownership.

Royal Navy veteran Roy Booth celebrated his 100th birthday in Bradford on Avon with his wife Barbara, to whom he has been married for more than 75 years. Booth served during most of the Second World War, including on Atlantic and Arctic convoys to Russia, later completing a career in the Navy and working as a police officer. The Royal British Legion honored him, including with a Bosun’s pipe performance by Falklands veteran Richard Westwood.

Fifteen-year-old Rickesha Grey of Sheldon School in Chippenham won the Wiltshire round of the South West Junior Chef of the Year competition with a dish of seared scallops, pea purée, Dauphinoise potatoes and garlic aioli. She will compete in the grand final at Exeter College in October, where Lucknam Park executive chef Hywel Jones will mentor her. The competition is open to students aged 11 to 16 and emphasizes dishes made mainly with locally sourced ingredients.

Wiltshire Music Centre will host Drama Tots Summer Sessions on August 5, offering singing, dancing and play for children aged 18 months to five. Tickets cost £9 with a sibling discount, and under‑18‑month children attend free. All participants must be registered in advance to ensure safety and adequate props.

Young drummers and guitarists aged nine to fourteen are invited to a rock band workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on July 31, 2026. Participants will form bands, rehearse and prepare for a live performance with support from professional tutors. The workshop costs £40 per child and requires attendees to bring their own instruments and lunch.

A five‑day ‘Musical In a Week’ workshop for children aged four to twelve will take place at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon from July 27 to 31, offering singing, acting and dancing activities and concluding with a family performance. Tickets cost £155 and must be purchased through the centre’s website.

Two capybara pups were born at Longleat Safari Park, marking the park’s first successful capybara birth. The young animals, born to Bart and Mildred, are healthy and currently housed in a nursery with a private pool. Keepers report they are thriving and may be visible to visitors soon. Capybaras, listed as Least Threatened by the IUCN, are semi‑aquatic rodents native to South America and typically produce litters of two to eight pups.

Wiltshire Council has launched the Make a Splash Wiltshire campaign to encourage families to stay active during the summer by using local leisure centre pools. The initiative promotes accessible and affordable swimming sessions, including family swims, inflatable sessions and intensive multi-day courses designed to build children’s confidence and water safety skills. It also supports World Drowning Prevention Day by directing families toward safe, supervised pool environments rather than open water. Leisure centres across the county are offering expanded programming as the council aims to boost participation and raise awareness of swimming’s health and safety benefits.

Wiltshire Council has launched the Belong in Wiltshire online resource to help military families settle into the county, offering information on housing, education, employment and wellbeing. Developed with military partners in response to family feedback, the initiative aligns with the Armed Forces Covenant and was highlighted at a recent Military Summit in Tidworth. Local leaders emphasised collaboration and the goal of ensuring the Armed Forces community feels supported and connected.

A July 4 event at Hartley Farm Shop & Kitchen in Bradford-on-Avon will feature live country and Americana music from Miss Dixie and the Blazing Saddles, along with BBQ food and a festive summer atmosphere. Tickets cost £20, with early buyers receiving a free drink voucher.

Police in Wiltshire will increase patrols at car boot sales to deter the sale of stolen rural property, particularly tools and agricultural equipment frequently targeted in farm-related crime. Neighbourhood officers will attend events countywide to disrupt illegal activity and reassure legitimate traders. The rural crime team urges attendees to report suspicious behaviour directly to officers or through online channels, with emergencies directed to 999.

A new 80‑bed care home in Melksham has reached its structural completion, marked by a topping‑out ceremony led by the Orders of St John Care Trust. Opening in spring 2027, the facility will offer residential, dementia and nursing care with amenities such as a cinema, gym and wellness spa. The design emphasizes sustainability, including all‑electric operation, high energy‑efficiency standards, solar panels and landscaped accessible gardens. With the frame complete, construction now shifts to interior work and landscaping.

Wiltshire Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund is providing financial and energy support to residents facing hardship, with over 300 people assisted by mid-May. The programme includes targeted help for households dependent on oil heating, supported by £783,725 in additional funding and a partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy. The initiative offers grants for fuel costs, personalised energy advice, and independent guidance through Wiltshire Citizens Advice, with the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub serving as the main contact point for assistance.

Inspector Lou Oakley outlined policing priorities for Trowbridge, Warminster, Melksham, and Bradford on Avon, focusing on crime and antisocial behaviour in Trowbridge town centre. Recent meetings with local councils aimed to coordinate responses and support a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order. Current priorities include addressing antisocial behaviour, town‑centre crime, shoplifting, and road safety. Residents are encouraged to report incidents to support evidence gathering and inform enforcement efforts.

A historic pub in Limpley Stoke has reopened as a community‑run venue after seven years of closure, following refurbishment and support from local volunteers and government funding. Managed by publicans Hannah Randall and Charlie Rawlings and owned by the village’s Community Benefit Society, the Hop Pole Inn now hosts social groups and events, supports local families, and has received national recognition including a Good Food Guide listing and a CAMRA award. Improvements include a new community room, upgraded garden features and tools supplied through Pub is The Hub, part of a wider government effort to strengthen rural pubs as community assets.

A charity event at Castle Place in Trowbridge raised funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in honour of Laura following her recent cancer treatment. Guests enjoyed entertainment, auctions and local business offerings, with former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies among those attending. Organizers praised the community effort and emphasized the event’s goal of supporting Macmillan’s work while providing an enjoyable evening.

Dedicated swimming sessions run by the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust help stoma patients regain confidence in the water through private, supportive monthly swims led by specialist nurses. Participants report improved emotional wellbeing and renewed ability to engage in public swimming, with some gaining confidence to travel and use outdoor pools again. Sessions continue through September.

A Canal Pride celebration in Bradford on Avon featured crafts, picnics and performances organised by Floaty Boat, with organisers highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces amid uncertainty surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights. The event was described as colourful, joyful and well-supported by the local community.

More than 100 pupils from 42 Wiltshire schools gathered at Tidworth Garrison Theatre to celebrate achievements in a year‑long project supporting children from Armed Forces families. Funded by the Armed Forces Education Trust and supported by Wiltshire Council, the initiative included workshops, displays and certificates recognising student and school contributions. Officials highlighted the challenges service children face and praised the project for improving understanding and support across schools. Case studies documenting the improvements will be compiled into a digital booklet to be shared later in the year.

Wiltshire residents selected the Brimstone as the county’s favourite butterfly in a recent poll, prompting Butterfly Conservation to encourage participation in the Big Butterfly Count from July 17 to August 9. The charity stresses the importance of public involvement as UK butterfly numbers continue to decline sharply due to habitat loss, climate change and pesticides. The survey invites people to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies or moths and submit sightings through the free app or website to support conservation efforts.

Amie Spinks of SA Group was named New Service Leaver of the Year at the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards for her strong transition from a 22-year military career to cybersecurity and digital assurance work in the civilian sector. Judges praised her leadership potential and contributions to strengthening defence system resilience through Secure by Design reviews aligned with the NIST framework. The ceremony, hosted by Nina Hossain, recognised the achievements of veterans moving into industry roles, with Atos sponsoring the award.

Police officers attended several community events in Wiltshire, beginning with the Wylye Valley Primary School Summer Fayre where children were able to sit in a police car and receive stickers. Officers later joined a drop-in session in Hindon, provided crime prevention advice, and visited other local events including the Semley Music Festival, Upton Lovell Summer Fete, and Heytesbury Village Day. The following day included attendance at the Drumhead Service of Remembrance in Fovant, with police praising the strong turnout and family‑friendly atmosphere.

The Wiltshire Times lists the most recent local death notice, acknowledging the passing of Jean Edwards on 4 June 2026 and inviting readers to view or submit additional notices as lasting online tributes.

Wiltshire-based author Ivelina Dimitrova has released her first English-language children’s book, Pasta with Buster, a humorous adventure about a mouse chase in an Italian family restaurant. Already the author of three Bulgarian books, she is offering the new title through major online marketplaces as well as directly at a lower price to support local engagement.

Swindon Borough Council, working with Life Cycle UK, is offering small businesses and community groups up to four free Sheffield cycle stands to encourage cycling and support environmental and health benefits. Applicants must ensure they have space for installation and can apply through the Life Cycle UK website.

Swift nesting boxes have been installed on the new Trowbridge Leisure Centre after a proposal from the Salisbury and Wilton Swifts group, supporting efforts to protect declining swift populations. Wiltshire Council welcomed the initiative as part of broader environmental commitments while the installation coincides with Swift Awareness Week, a national campaign promoting conservation. Local advocates highlighted long‑term benefits for swifts and other small birds as construction continues on the sustainable leisure facility.

Alexandra Gray is designing her first show garden, The Yin and Yang Pocket Planting, for the RHS Badminton Flower Show, featuring contrasting sun and shade areas. After its exhibition, the garden will be moved to The Lye Field in Seend to serve as a lasting community feature for residents and visitors.