A quick one from me today, offering our congratulations to our new writer, Helen Edwards from Devizes, who read out her poem “Motherhood,” on BBC Wiltshire this week on James Thomas’s Upload show. “It was fun,” she told us, “except my phone started ringing!”
Listen here from the BBC website, or Soundcloud link, here. I love writing, but poems, hum, something about bacon, not to mention I’m an absolute bag of nerves on radio! The article on the Bournemouth Writing Festival Helen mentioned is here too, and this one worked both ways, also inspiring Helen to write. Well done you, and we look forward to hearing some more soon!
Trending….
Swindon Advertiser Running With Islamophobic Clickbait, Again
Immediately after the weekend which saw press photographers ejected, so they could savagely beat women at the Birmingham Reform conference, as if someone threw a side of beef into a pride of starved lions while Farage played the part of Scar, encouraging them and laughing it off, and black shirts disrupted holiday-makers returning home, and…
Marlborough’s Hidden Gem; The Town’s Home for Arts, Culture and Community
Tucked away in plain sight at the heart of Marlborough stands St Peter’s. While this Grade II listed landmark has been around for centuries, its modern identity remains one of the area’s best-kept secrets…. Though no longer an active church, the Trustees have quietly been transforming this historic structure into a vibrant, independent space for…
Chippenham “Midweek Mojo” Brian Reid Passes Away
Tributes to Chippenham’s community activist, poet, actor, and event compere Brian Reid poured onto social media today, as the sad news of his passing spreads… Known as the “Midweek Mojo,” Brian Reid was renowned and much loved in the Chippenham community. A prominent figure in the Wiltshire arts scene, hosting open mic nights at the…
JP Oldfield’s Saltwater Gospel
Devizes favourite southern fried gothic-Delta blues one man band, JP Oldfield has an EP released at the end of the week, Saltwater Gospel. It’s a six gun shooter of length and breadth, classed as an EP, but contains enough poignant narrative, dark twisted swagger, and redemption, for an album to have causally swung through those…
Jess Chiver’s Sunrise Comparison
I’ve found myself sympathising about post-punk recently, how they scrambled around in the dark somewhat, taking pot shots at reggae, claiming a “new wave,” or else succumbed or faded to new romantic electronica. Find myself wondering what they’d have made of grunge or emo at the time, because that’s progressing the style, and in this,…
Local Reggae Musicians Release Compilation Celebrating Ninetieth Anniversary of Emperor’s Exile in Bath
Singers and players of instruments of The Southwest assembled for an album celebrating the ninetieth anniversary since Emperor Haile Selassie I was exiled to England, and stayed at Fairfield House in Bath, now a museum and shrine to the Ethiopian Emperor….. Last month I wrote a piece about the celebrations and activities at Fairfield House,…
The Modernisation of Wiltshire Museum; Chatting with Amber
Okay, that’s enough now! The social media presence of Wiltshire Museum in Devizes has shot from zero to hero. Vlogs of staff dancing in period clothing, creating street art, and generally enjoying themselves far too much! When did working at a museum look so much fun, unless you’re Ben Stiller?! This all came to an…
“Scenes from an Execution” at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, September 21st – 26th 2026
by Ian Diddams images by Wharf Theatre An artist expresses their personal thoughts. The rich and powerful use their positions to shut that expression down and remove the artist. Yet the act of suppression feeds a wider interest in the subject being suppressed. Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and venue owners? Or a 1980s play about a…
Devizes Residents; Glue Chattering Teeth Toys To Market Cross!
Our trustworthy Gazelle & Herod reported today that “disgraceful” behaviour in Devizes Market Place has elevated into a dental issue…. Publishing an article which states the police are frustrated by the issue, they quote an Inspector, who said The Public Spaces Protection Order “has given them certain useful powers, but lacks teeth, and has yet…
Devizes Brickley Lane Play Area Public Consultation
Devizes Town Council would like to hear your views on the proposed scheme for the Brickley Lane Play Area… They are inviting residents and the local community to share their feedback. The consultation closes on the 30th September 2026. The Town Council is proposing to refurbish the Brickley Lane Play Area, which has been closed…
