Molly Weller

Hand Me Down Salisbury, founded by local mother Jacqui Machin, is set to open in Salisbury’s Cross Keys Shopping Centre on August 29. The shop will sell consigned maternity wear, nursery items, children’s clothing, toys and equipment, with families receiving 25% to 40% of sale proceeds or store credit with a 10% bonus. The business aims to provide a simpler local alternative to online marketplaces while encouraging reuse and supporting household finances. It will also offer a community corner and launch activities including clothing-repair and upcycling demonstrations.

Bishop Wordsworth's School reported a record year of A-level performance, with 84% of grades at A*–B, 59% at A* or A, and an average grade of A. Ten students achieved straight A*s, 65 gained only A* and A grades, and more than 85% secured their first-choice placements. Interim Head Master Mike Thorne credited the students, their families, teachers and support staff, while congratulating the cohort on its future university, apprenticeship, employment and travel opportunities.

Children’s author Tony AJ Larcombe read three self-published books to young listeners at Whyte Books in Wilton Shopping Village. The Wilton-based writer turned to children’s literature after leaving a corporate career following a stroke in 2020 and, after repeated publisher rejections, chose to self-publish. His illustrated stories emphasize adventure, friendship, kindness and inclusivity. Bookshop owner Helen Whyte praised the event and Larcombe’s reading and writing advice.

Around 3,000 people attended the final Music on the Lawns concert of the summer at Salisbury Cathedral on August 16. The free afternoon performance by the Swing Unlimited Big Band included dancing and family activities, with refreshments available on the cathedral grounds. It concluded the cathedral’s three-event 2026 Joyful Noise outdoor music programme, which had also featured gospel, South Asian music and dance.

A documentary titled Larger Than Life profiles Connor Sanderson, a Salisbury football coach born with sacral agenesis and missing both femur bones. Despite being told as a child that he would not walk or live a normal life, Sanderson pursued wheelchair rugby and sport, became a PE assistant and coach, and now works with young people through Astrella Primary Stars and the Astrella Academy of Football. Created and directed by Bournemouth University student Sam Mason over approximately a year, the film won Best Documentary at the LJMU MA Short Film Festival and aims to encourage people facing adversity to maintain a positive mindset.

Healthspan will open a new health and wellness store at 9 Butcher Row in Salisbury on August 25. The shop will sell vitamins, specialist supplements, skincare, Healthspan Elite sports nutrition and VetVits pet supplements, with trained staff available to advise customers. The company has also secured permission for new signage at the former frame and picture shop and highlighted its online and catalogue-based trading history, supplier GMP certification and raw-material quality checks.

Rain is forecast for Salisbury after more than two months of unusually dry, hot weather, although rainfall totals are expected to remain low. The Wessex region recorded only 2mm of rain in July, the driest July since records began in 1871. Low river flows, dry soils and increased demand have heightened concerns about water supplies and environmental impacts, prompting Wessex Water to introduce its first regional hosepipe ban in 50 years.

Salisbury resident Bobby Mackie, 55, is completing 100 push-ups every day throughout September to raise £200 for Cancer Research UK. The challenge is motivated by the deaths of several family members from cancer and his desire to remain fit for his children. Having completed the challenge previously, Mackie expects it to be physically demanding and is also undergoing medical tests because of his family history.

An art exhibition by East Grimstead resident Diana Cotter raised nearly £700 for the Save Our Church campaign supporting Holy Trinity Church, built in 1857. The exhibition displayed artworks inspired by local flora and fauna and was held at the church on August 9 and 10. Fundraising has increased event and one-off donation income from £5,000 to £8,025, while regular donations have doubled to £4,000, but organizers still need an additional £2,000 in recurring contributions to meet the church’s £6,000 annual running-cost target.

Ten independent businesses in Amesbury describe how they contribute to the town’s character, economy and community life. Traders say personal service, distinctive products, collaboration and local knowledge help them compete with larger chains and online retailers. Businesses highlighted include cafés, a salon, retailers, a pet shop, a history centre, a photography service, a pub and a butcher, with several supporting local causes, makers and other traders. Collectively, they argue that continued local support is essential to keeping Amesbury’s town centre vibrant and preventing the loss of its community identity.

A photo-archive feature revisits Salisbury and Wiltshire in August 1976, highlighting preparations for the Salisbury Festival, a Fordingbridge Art Club exhibition, artist Clarisse Loxton-Peacock’s work in Bishopstone, and community events including the Wilton Bird Show and Winterslow Show. The Wurzels performed at High Post, while local photographs also captured children at Salisbury Adventure Playground, the Phelan family, and the Burt family beside a car loaned by Kenwicks.

A special service at Stonehenge marked the start of Amesbury Mayor Laura Knight’s 2026–27 term and brought together civic leaders from across Wiltshire. The ceremony, led by members of the Aes Dana Grove Stonehenge Druids, included a procession, an Awen chant and the passing of a wooden staff, while Revd Canon Kelvin Inglis delivered a prayer of reflection. Knight emphasized community, shared responsibility, kindness and connection in her address.

New Forest District Council crews have filled five cage vans with litter during a clean-up along the A31, following a heathland fire sparked by a vehicle blaze. The operation began after vegetation was cut back to create firebreaks and improve safety, exposing substantial roadside waste. Officials said the road closure allowed the work to be carried out safely and described it as part of wider multi-agency recovery efforts.

Smoke was reported across Salisbury, Amesbury, Alderbury, Harnham and surrounding parts of Wiltshire, apparently carried by prevailing winds from multiple fires in the region. A grassland fire near the Westbury White Horse burned about four acres and prompted a major incident declaration, while further fires were reported around Andover. Fire and rescue services warned that hot, dry weather had sharply increased wildfire risk and urged the public to take extra care outdoors.

Salisbury Hospital’s Sustain & Reclaim Centre will relocate to make way for a new surgical and diagnostic hub and replacement parking. The centre saved the NHS £390,168.66 in 2025/26 by repairing, refurbishing and reusing equipment, while also reducing waste and supporting volunteer and community activity. The trust says it will provide suitable alternative premises so the service can continue.

Brick Tours will hold a LEGO-themed family event at Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury on October 25 from 10am to 3pm. The event will include large LEGO displays, independent traders selling rare sets, loose bricks and minifigures, plus a bouncy castle, face painting, building pits and competitions. Organiser Cal Austin said the venue was chosen because it could accommodate the displays and activities, and tickets are available through the Brick Tours website.

The River Avon, which flows from Wiltshire through Hampshire to Christchurch, has been named the UK's most picturesque fishing spot in a ranking by The House of Bruar. Based on Instagram hashtag popularity and published to mark National Fishing Month, the ranking credited the river’s scenic appeal, clean waters and opportunities for trout, coarse and salmon fishing. Its varied landscapes around Salisbury and surrounding towns make it an attractive destination for anglers and nature lovers.

Salisbury dog walker Ema Lovell spent nearly two years creating a Henry VIII-themed charity calendar featuring 16 dogs dressed as Tudor figures in handmade costumes. The calendar includes representations of Henry VIII, his six wives, Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell, and honors three dogs that died during the project’s delay. It is expected to go on sale at Amesbury Pet Shop by the end of the month, with possible future greeting cards and other merchandise. Lovell also helps run a Community Pet Food Bank and operates the dog services business Paws to Tours.

Salisbury mother Melba Knighton, 44, is undertaking a 40-kilometre running challenge, including the Bournemouth Half Marathon, to raise awareness of autism and mental health. After losing nearly five stone through Mounjaro, diet and exercise, she began running and joined the RevRunners club. Inspired by her two autistic children and her family’s experiences with mental-health services, she hopes to raise £350 for mental-health research and £125 for Autism UK, while also supporting the Autism Initiatives Group.

A GT hybrid bicycle donated to the Salvation Army’s Re-Cycles scheme was stolen from the charity’s hall in Salisbury during a family event. Volunteers said they were devastated because they repair donated bikes in their own time, with proceeds supporting local community work. Since launching in 2021, the scheme has rehomed more than 1,000 bikes and helped people, particularly young students, while reducing landfill waste. Wiltshire Police recorded the theft, and the charity appealed for information and the bike’s safe return.

The third Grimsdyke Goose Fair at Swaynes Firs Farm raised more than £16,000 for Salisbury Hospice Charity. Organized by Grimsdyke Poultry Auctions and the Butt family, the event featured poultry and hatching-egg auctions, a car boot sale, family activities, refreshments and live music, with more than 800 poultry lots sold. Hospice representatives thanked the organizers, volunteers and local community for their support.

Up to £20 million from the government-backed Pride in Place programme could be invested in Salisbury’s Bemerton area over the next decade. A 13-member community board chaired by Tom Belshaw has been formed to oversee the programme, with Wiltshire Council and local representatives involved. The board has expanded the investment area to include several schools, sports facilities and recreational grounds and is seeking residents’ views through a survey and targeted outreach, including work with underrepresented groups. Feedback will inform the area’s long-term priorities and investment plan.

Unidentified white powder has been found in small piles on Salisbury’s Castle Street, Crane Street, Fisherton Street and the town path, prompting concern about possible risks to people and pets. The substance’s origin and composition are unknown, and residents are advised not to touch it, keep pets away and report sightings to the local authority. Wiltshire Police and Salisbury City Council had been contacted for comment.

More than £2 million has been invested in new trench systems at Copehill Down on Salisbury Plain to make British Army training more representative of modern warfare. The facilities include fighting positions, covered command posts, protected shelters, observation points and vehicle positions. The project was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the British Army and Landmarc Support Services as part of the Ministry of Defence’s wider programme to modernise the Defence Training Estate and maintain the Army’s readiness for current and future threats.

A Salisbury woman, Ella Naylor-Hall, says delays, cancellations and administrative errors prolonged her treatment for debilitating endometriosis for eight years. Freedom of Information data from Salisbury District Hospital shows lengthy or rising waits for several women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, pelvic pain and polycystic ovary syndrome. The hospital trust acknowledged that long waits can be distressing but said targeted improvement work had reduced average waits for first gynaecology appointments from 146 to 98 days, improved referral-to-treatment performance and reduced the backlog.

Winterslow Men's Shed has unveiled a colourful community bench outside the village hall. Named “Drawing People Together,” its slats resemble rainbow-coloured pencils and were made from recycled and locally sourced materials using members' skills in CAD design, 3D printing and woodworking. The bench forms part of the UK-wide Mission: Shoulder to Shoulder campaign, led by DRINKiQ and the UK Men's Sheds Association, which aims to create 100 buddy benches to encourage conversations and help reduce social isolation.

A nostalgic look at life in and around Salisbury 50 years ago recalls a golden wedding anniversary, French students visiting the city, an Alderholt steam rally, and the return of Belgian evacuee George de Preter. Archive images also document Whiteparish Cricket Club, Wilton Pony Club, the New Forest Show, and local community figures, highlighting celebrations, international connections, heritage events, and sporting life.

Pigtails & Pints, hosted by Hair by Laura P, will return to The Salisbury Arms on Endless Street on August 20. The event gives dads, grandads and other father figures a chance to learn simple hairstyles for their daughters while socializing over drinks. Organizer Laura Peter said the first event at Dark Revolution was successful and that the initiative aims to build family and community connections, support independent venues and encourage conversations about men’s mental health. All equipment is provided and no experience is required.

Salisbury Sixth Form College has received just over £1.9 million from the Department for Education’s Post-16 Capacity Fund to support a campus expansion. The plans include new classrooms and seminar rooms for 100 additional students, internal improvements, expanded parking, electric vehicle charging points and upgraded cycle facilities. Student numbers are expected to rise from about 320 four years ago to around 520 this September and approximately 560 by 2027. A planning application has been submitted, with highways officers broadly accepting the expansion but requesting further details on access, cycle storage and travel planning.

The Old Alehouse in Salisbury, operated by Ed and Buffy Turner’s company Buff and the Bear, is marking its tenth year with a week-long celebration. Events include historic menu items, daily happy hours, discounts on house drinks, a special pub quiz, live music and a Sunday roast with complimentary prosecco. The pub emphasizes its independent, community-driven character and its use of locally and responsibly sourced food and drinks, while owner Ed Turner thanked customers and supporters for helping the business endure.

Salisbury Cathedral hosted a free afternoon of South Asian music and dance on its lawns as part of the Music on the Lawns summer programme. Curated by Art Asia, the event featured performances by Pooja Angra, Karan Rana, and Rakhi Sood with her students, attracting hundreds of attendees who enjoyed Indian classical and modern Bollywood music. The event forms part of the cathedral’s wider Joyful Noise 2026 programme, with one further Music on the Lawns performance scheduled for August 16.

Edward “Teddy” Penn, 97, and Mary Penn, 88, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a family gathering at Braemar Lodge in Salisbury. The couple met in Cyprus in the 1950s while Teddy was serving as an Army captain, married in Devizes in 1956 and spent much of their life moving between army postings across Europe and the Middle East. Their children attribute the marriage’s longevity to their ability to create a home wherever they lived, maintain strong community ties and support each other. After careers and community work in the East Riding, they returned to Salisbury, where they marked the rare platinum anniversary with family, friends, prayers and a card from the King.

The King's Head Inn, a JD Wetherspoon pub on Bridge Street in Salisbury, will host a nationwide craft cider festival from July 31 to August 9. The event will feature 10 UK craft ciders, including traditional ciders, perries and flavoured varieties, priced at £2.99 per pint. Customers can also buy three third-of-a-pint tasters for the price of one pint, with tasting notes available in print, online and through the Wetherspoon app.

The Grimsdyke Goose Fair will return to Swaynes Firs in Coombe Bissett on August 2, 2026, featuring a traditional auction of geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl alongside a car boot sale, food stalls, trade stands and family activities. Organised by the Butt family, the event has raised nearly £25,000 for Salisbury Hospice Charity over the past two years, with proceeds supporting free care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Wiltshire recorded 56.09 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending March 2026, below the South West average of 73.49 and the England average of 83.45, making it the safest force area in the region. Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson attributed the results to local, community-focused policing and argued that larger police forces do not necessarily deliver better outcomes. Wiltshire Police also received the highest rating in HMICFRS’s new performance system, while Chief Constable Catherine Roper said rising recorded crime partly reflects greater public confidence in reporting offences and improved recording practices.

A look back at Salisbury-area events from 50 years earlier, including school open days, sports days, charity fetes, holiday programmes and a motorcycle scramble. The feature highlights Miss Phelps’s retirement from St Edmund’s School, Wilton Middle School’s athletics events, community fundraising for animal protection and activities designed to keep local children engaged during the summer break.

British Forces Resettlement Services will host a free careers fair at Tidworth Leisure Centre on September 17, bringing together more than 90 employers, training providers and support organisations for serving personnel, veterans, reservists, military families and other members of the Armed Forces community. More than 500 visitors are expected from Wiltshire, Hampshire and surrounding areas, with opportunities spanning engineering, defence, logistics, technology, construction, education, utilities and the public sector. The event is intended to support employment, training, career development and military resettlement while helping local employers access skilled talent.

Stars Appeal, Salisbury Hospital’s charity, is organizing a six-day, 100km trek across the Sahara Desert in February 2028. Participants must raise at least £2,000 for the charity and cover their own trekking costs. Funds will support hospital equipment, building improvements, cancer services, children’s services and Wi-Fi. The charity’s previous six treks have raised more than £570,000, including £91,973 from a recent Himalayan trek, and an information evening for prospective participants will be held in Salisbury.

A new 2.5-hectare solar farm at Larkhill Garrison on Salisbury Plain is now operational, with more than 4,000 photovoltaic panels expected to generate about 1.7 GWh of electricity annually—enough to power roughly 630 UK homes. Surplus energy will be distributed to nearby camps through a private wire network. Delivered by Aspire Defence Services Ltd for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and funded through Project PROMETHEUS, the installation is expected to avoid approximately 352 tonnes of CO2e each year. The project supports the Army’s energy-resilience and net-zero strategy and includes a butterfly conservation area to promote biodiversity.

Wild Roots Wellbeing, founded three years ago by Sophie Chatfield and Gemma Buck, offers women a relaxed and non-judgmental space to meet, talk and unwind. The group was created to support women experiencing loneliness or major life transitions, providing homemade refreshments, conversation and opportunities to share, learn and form connections without pressure.

A major restoration will transform Salisbury’s Grade II‑listed former Cathedral Hotel into a 13‑suite luxury boutique venue with fine dining and a rooftop Spitfire Bar, scheduled to open in 2027. Developer Larasian plans extensive heritage‑led upgrades, including restoring the façade, sash windows and internal archways, while retaining the original 18th‑century staircase. The project, supported by several architectural and planning partners, draws inspiration from Salisbury’s wartime Spitfire history and is expected to create 28 jobs and boost the city’s visitor economy.

A community-owned pub in Rockbourne, The Rose and Thistle, is thriving two years after villagers bought the freehold to save it from closure. Under new leadership from chef Ryan Coulson and manager Julianna Boily, the pub has introduced a refreshed menu, seen improved ratings and now operates with strong local support. It emphasizes local sourcing, seasonal produce and in‑house preparation, and has earned recognition including the Acorn Award and Historic Pub of the Year.

Wiltshire Council is introducing a pilot booking system at six household recycling centres, including Salisbury, requiring residents to reserve 30‑minute slots starting September 14. The scheme aims to reduce queues, improve convenience, and limit disruption to nearby communities and businesses while maintaining existing services, waste types, and opening hours. Residents can book online up to a week in advance or by phone if needed. The council advises checking for occasional schedule changes during extreme heat as part of its broader effort to enhance customer experience.

A creative event at Salisbury Guildhall launched the See Space Differently initiative, bringing together artists, designers, architects and community members for collaborative discussions and activities. The programme featured talks, performances and the introduction of a new podcast, showcasing ideas for shared creative spaces and future community-oriented projects led by architect Tim Scrace and the See Space Differently team.

Father David Martin Swyer has been licensed as interim priest-in-charge of St Martin’s Church in Salisbury and St Peter’s Church in Devizes during a service led by senior clergy from the Diocese of Salisbury. The event, attended by local dignitaries, clergy and parishioners, marked the beginning of his joint ministry across the two parishes, with both communities expressing enthusiasm for future collaboration.

A new pre‑loved children’s clothing shop called Hand Me Down Salisbury is set to open in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre, created by local mother Jacqui Machin to promote sustainability and community sharing. The store will offer resale of outgrown children’s clothing with families receiving a portion of the sale price, accept donations, and provide a social space for parents and children. The opening is planned for mid to late August, with the aim of filling a gap in family‑focused sustainable retail in the city.

An eight‑foot wooden bull sculpture named El Bravo, created by Salisbury artist Zac Newham from reclaimed timber, is being showcased ahead of its appearance at the New Forest Show. The piece, part of Newham’s Anima series, highlights themes of strength and bravery and is designed for public interaction. Newham aims to find a permanent public home for the sculpture while continuing to merge ecological awareness with large‑scale art projects, with future works planned including lion and wolf sculptures.

Two Salisbury residents, Hayden Fraser and Andy Fleet, will represent England at the Visually Impaired Rugby World Championships in Tokyo, competing as part of the Southern Spartans. Fraser describes how continuing to play after sight loss has built his confidence, while Fleet expresses pride in the opportunity. The England team, undefeated internationally, will face Japan, France, Ireland and New Zealand beginning November 6 under modified VI rugby rules.

More than 500 members of the Armed Forces community are expected to attend a British Forces Resettlement Services careers and training event in Tidworth, connecting service personnel, veterans and families with over 90 employers and support organisations. Exhibitors from sectors including engineering, defence, technology and construction will provide information on employment, training and personal development, with companies such as Chemring Countermeasures and Callen-Lenz expressing strong support for the initiative.

Concerns were raised by Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr over the handling of public communications in a rape case involving three teenagers after the Crown Prosecution Service issued an inaccurate press release. She criticised the CPS for failing to correct misinformation promptly and questioned Attorney General Lord Hermer’s public statements, which did not counter widespread inaccuracies or ease hostility directed at the sentencing judge. The judgment stressed the need to preserve the separation of legal processes from political influence. The Attorney General’s Office stated it would review the judgment and noted the CPS had accepted responsibility for the errors.

Builders uncovered human remains during excavation work in Durrington, prompting police and forensic assessment that determined the bones were more than a century old. Archaeologists conducted a rescue excavation and confirmed the remains belonged to a Roman-era burial, likely a woman over 50. The site was professionally documented and building work continued without disruption as further analysis proceeds.

A new Salisbury-based community group, The Girls Table, has been launched by 22‑year‑old India Cornelius‑Reid to provide young women with a supportive space to build friendships. Inspired by her own experiences of anxiety and isolation, she aims to create inclusive events such as coffee mornings, Pilates sessions and wellness activities. The initiative seeks to foster confidence, connection and belonging, with hopes to expand across Wiltshire and partner with local businesses. The first event is planned soon, with updates shared via Instagram.