Even in the quieter parts of rural Wiltshire some news stories do make the local paper. Below are some examples courtesy of the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald:
12th Sept 2000 – “PILOT John Moore and his passenger miraculously escaped injury when their plane went into a spin and plunged into a field near Calne. Mr Moore of Calstone Mill, Calstone Wellington, ran into difficulty after equipment jammed on his Robin 400 aircraft and the plane crash- landed between Quemerford and the North Wiltshire Golf Course, at Blacklands, near Calne. The incident as Mr Moore, a solicitor who lives in London during the week, and his unnamed male companion were taking pictures. Mr Moore tried to straighten the plane up after a turn, but went into a spin when the piece of equipment, which has not been identified, failed.” I can exclusively reveal that the unnamed passenger was Robin Peck formally of this parish.
7th Nov 2002 – “Wigglybus will link rural communities – THE rural area around Calne is the next stop for an innovative door-to-door bus service, which will provide a customised transport service for people living in isolated areas. Customers will be able to telephone the award-winning Wigglybus and request a stop outside their door or in their village. The bus will respond to user demand and will divert from its main route to collect passengers. The Wigglybus will function in three zones around Calne. Zone one includes Bremhill, Stanley and Studley, zone two is Cherhill, including Compton Bassett, Lower Compton and Yatesbury and zone three includes Blacklands, Calstone, Wellington, Quemerford and Stockley.
27th November 2003 – “Calne jazz fans gathered for the first meeting of a new jazz club at the Jolly Miller pub last night. Piano, bass and drums were on hand for a jamming session, and jazz musicians were invited to play or sing. Jazz pianist James Harpham, who has just tutored three of his piano students through the new Associated Board jazz grade exams, has initiated the jam session. A professional pianist, Mr Harpham, from Calstone, enjoyed a jamming session with other jazz musicians at the Marlborough Jazz Festival and decided it would be fun to set something up in Calne. “Jazz is getting more and more fun,” he said. “A lot of people are learning it and enjoying it, and this club will help encourage that.””
19th Jan 2006 –“A new priest in charge of Oldbury benefice has been appointed, ending an interregnum of more than a year created when the Rev Bob Hurley left under a cloud. Mr Hurley departed in September 2004 after his relationship with the parishes deteriorated following a row about him not reading from the prayer book.”
15th Jan 2009 – “A HOLLYWOOD film director will host a screening of his Golden Globe-nominated film to help raise funds towards the restoration of a village church’s coat of arms. Christopher Miles, who lives in Calstone Wellington near Calne, has spent nearly two years on a mission to find out more about and restore the Royal Coat of Arms, dating back to the 18th century, above the chancel at St Mary the Virgin Church.”