Archive
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Laura is honoured for her devotion to sister Emily
AN Abergavenny 12-year-old who is devoted to her little sister has been given a Young Achiever of the Year award which will be presented tomorrow. Laura Chicken, of Western Road, will attend a ceremony at Maes Manor, Blackwood, with her father Neil and
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Inquiry sets out new council homes target
IT is vital that the Unitary Development Plan is adopted as soon as possible otherwise it misses the deadline to become a key policy document, said Monmouthshire's head of planning. George Ashworth said National Assembly planning inspector Phil Grainger
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Lunch on the menu if you park at Riverside
A MONMOUTH hotelier is offering hungry shoppers an alternative to 'pay-and-display' prior to the new charges being introduced on Cinderhill Street. Gareth Collins, owner of the Riverside Hotel opposite the car park, is offering his own hotel car park
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Great win keeps Aber at the top
ABERGAVENNY tightened their grip at the top of the Welsh League Division Three East with a convincing 33-10 victory over Old Illtydians in Cardiff on Saturday. Aber entered the weekend on points difference with second placed Senghenydd, with three games
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Patient tells her hospital horror
A CHEPSTOW woman this week slammed the state of the Royal Gwent Hospital - citing walls spattered with blood amongst a catalogue of shocking observations. Karen Collier, of Maple Close, Bulwark, was admitted on November 10 after collapsing at home. Soon
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New year delay for car park charges
THE WIDELY opposed car park charges initially planned to come into force in October will now not be implemented until the new year, it was revealed this week. Monmouthshire County Council are introducing pay-and-display machines at Cinderhill Street car
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Cup of woe as Town go out
AFTER crushing Division Two rivals Abertillery Bluebirds 4-2 in the league last week, Monmouth Town failed to repeat their success in the Gwent County Motors Cup on Saturday slipping to a 3-1 defeat. That was despite a better all-round performance than
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Distinction for Barbara
LOCAL poet Barbara Daniels has received the honour of becoming a full member of the Welsh Academy following the publication of six collections of poetry and numerous successes in poetry competitions. The membership, which is only extended by invitation
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Landmark tree is danger to public
ONE of Abergavenny's landmark trees is to be felled next week after inspectors said it was a potential danger to the public. The large copper beech that lies within one of the towers at Abergavenny Castle has a serious fungal infection, known as ustilina
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They're ready to make biggest splash of all
WYE oarsman Andrew Barnett launches out to row the Atlantic this Sunday, safe in the knowledge that he's better prepared than double Olympic champion James Cracknell. "We were given a ringing endorsement by the ocean race scrutineers, who said we were
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Players honour tragic Daniel
PLAYERS, coaches and staff at Chepstow RFC held a one minute's silence prior to their well-spirited friendly with the Green Howards regiment on Friday, in memory of Daniel Thorne - the club's scrum-half (pictured right) who was killed in a road accident
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Youngsters 'bear up' well for the day
GENEROUS people from Monmouth dug deep into their pockets to support this year's BBC Children in Need Appeal. Pupils of Trellech Primary School got up early and went to school in their pyjamas and were treated to a breakfast served up by the teachers
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Resident threatens to sue council over warden issue
CALLS for a permanent warden to be based at The Reddings, in Bulwark, Chepstow, have picked up momentum as one resident threatens to sue the council if anyone is injured while they are left without one. Richard Ley, 67, says he moved to a disabled bungalow
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Sheltered housing overhaul
MONMOUTHSHIRE'S sheltered housing service is to undergo an overhaul and review after coming under heavy criticism by concerned residents and their families. For months two sheltered housing accommodations in the region have been without a full-time warden
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Trouble ahead over development
THE Rockfield Road development in Mon-mouth is like 'a cancerous growth, spilling into the countryside', according to a Mon-mouthshire county councillor speaking last week. Cllr Ruth Edwards, the Llantilio Crossenny member appealed to the county council's
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OAP is saved
TWO workers from Abergavenny Leisure Centre saved the life of a pensioner yesterday when he suffered a heart attack and stopped breathing. Retired BT engineer, Maurice Jones, who is in his seventies, was visiting the leisure centre for his usual early
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Last-gasp equaliser
COACH Ben Bannon was left fuming with his players after Mardy gave away a late equaliser at Cwmffrwdoer on Saturday - saying his side needed to concentrate for 90 minutes, not 89. The league leaders had found themselves 2-0 down to their hosts after only
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Crucial planning meeting for Wetherspoon's
TRADERS in St Mary Street, Chepstow, are remaining tight-lipped about their views on the proposed plans of JD Wetherspoon's who are looking to come into the town centre. Local residents and business owners are awaiting the outcome of tonight's crucial
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Welsh call-up for fencing champ
MONMOUTH schoolgirl Olivia Orchart, 16, celebrated being invited to compete for the Welsh region at epee in fencing's Winton Cup at the weekend - by winning a championship at her preferred weapon of foil. Olivia's call-up is down to her being the top-placed
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Goytre made to sit game out for a second time
GOYTRE Chairman Paul Greenhalgh fears his side may squander their great start to the season when they finally get a game, after Goytre's second scheduled league clash in a row was cancelled on Saturday. On November 12, their Division Three game with Cwmamman
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Museums rewarded for heritage information
Big Pit yesterday welcomed representatives of six museums receiving the Sandford Award for Heritage Education - as well as picking up the award itself. Big Pit: National Coal Museum - one of the Amgueddfa Cymru National Museums Wales family of museums
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Axe falls at TRW
MANUFACTURING in Torfaen is being dealt another blow next week as around 90 workers at TRW's Pontypool factory face losing their jobs. Just last week Pontypool factory Trico announced 250 job losses as production is due to cease. Now a document leaked
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Panteg dumped out of the cup
PANTEG'S poor record in the County Motors Cup continued on Saturday as they were dumped out of the competition with a late winner at Race. Paul Thomas' side looked to be cruising at 2-0 up after just 20 minutes, but a spirited comeback saw Race draw level
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Winning mascot
THE FOURTH lucky Pooler mascot winner took pride of place as he led his team out for their win over Cardiff this weekend. Keiran Marsh, five, from Pontypool, led the team out at the start of the game that broke their recent losing streak. Kieran met captain
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New Panteg: hot stuff on a cold pitch
NEW Panteg's under-15s overturned old rivals and friends RTB Ebbw Vale 17-7 in a well-spirited encounter with entertainment served up by both teams. The semi-frozen pitch played host to some excellent running rugby and good tactical kicking. Both teams
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Battling Race are rewarded with win
County Motors Cup Round Two Race First XI 3 Panteg First XI 2 injury-ravaged Race booked their place in the next round of the County Motors Cup, with a superb battling performance against higher opposition, and thoroughly deserved their victory. They
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Swiss letter scam alert
TORFAEN residents are being warned that they could be targeted by scam letters, claiming to be from a clairvoyant in Switzerland. Torfaen council's Trading Standards office have received a number of complaints from worried residents. The letter mysteriously
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Cardiff pay the penalty
PONTYPOOL gained a hard-earned win in the frost against their fellow strugglers. But they had a great escape two minutes from the end when Cardiff outside half Chris Anderson missed a 23-metre straight penalty after Pooler were caught offside. Ironically
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Choir record a stocking filler
AN ABERSYCHAN school choir has more than one reason to sing out loud and proud, writes Andy Downie. Victoria Primary School children are the only choir in Torfaen to be invited to sing in Cardiff this Christmas - and they've also got a CD coming out.
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Help to build up local legends of industry
The Free Press is challenging the people of Torfaen to bring the characters and stories of Wales' dynamic industrial era back to life. Building legends around interesting characters from an era when Wales led the world could hold the key to economic and
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Models' sex-line anguish
TWO local models have reacted with fury after an advert carrying their names appeared in the personal section of a local paper. For one of the girls, it even led to personal abuse in the street. Friday's edition of our sister paper the South Wales Argus
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War heroes meet again after 60 years
THE war-time song says 'we"ll meet again' - and 60 years after they were both in the parachute regiment, two veterans did just that. The pair met up for the first time since the war ended 60 years ago at County Hospital, Griffithstown, where they were
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MS sufferer is allowed access to treatment
A multiple sclerosis sufferer denied funding for chemotherapy has been told he can now have the cash for the treatment. Ian Williams, 33, from Pontypool, will now have the treatment he desperately needs to help ease his crippling condition. Mr Williams
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'I'm a celebrity, get me over here,' says David
CHEPSTOW is fast becoming a magnet for attracting celebrity visitors - and television presenter David Dickinson is no exception. The television presenter has confirmed an interest in coming to the town - but has made a stop-off in Australia on his way
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Old style rally returns with a bang as fans welcome action
Thousands of spectators lined the stages of The Dom Valley Stadium in Sheffield last Saturday to watch the action on the RAC Rally. Rally enthusiasts have long mourned the loss of the old style RAC Rally which started in a different part of the UK every
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Smith is still upbeat
Despite Saturday's cup defeat, player manager Andrew Smith remained upbeat. He commented: "At the end of the day, we have totally outplayed a side that are up the top end of the table with us. On another day, we could have beat them by two or three goals
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Mayor praises blooming effort
MAYOR Liz Fleming hosted a civic reception for the committee and friends of Usk in Bloom to congratulate them on the achievement of winning both Wales in Bloom and Britain in Bloom. In her welcoming address, Liz said: "Whenever I tell people where I live
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Game gets nasty but points won
This bad-tempered game had a couple of flash points with the Chepstow supporters being guilty of running on the pitch, this being the third week running that these fierce local rivals had played each other. The first two games both had proper referees
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Elvis is still turning it on
ABERGAVENNY town centre came to a standstill as hundreds of people saw Elvis turn on the Christmas lights on Saturday. The King (aka Abergavenny electrician Keith Davies) arrived with his Memphis Mafia at the town hall in a stretch limo. The star was
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Skenfrith squeezed out in a thriller
Bringsty 5 Skenfrith 4 For the fourth time this season, Skenfrith United conceded two goals before they got started, and this week it was within eight minutes. After conceding the two goals, Skenny settled down and got back in to it, attacking the Bringsty
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Driver aims to trace card owner
A digital camera picture card was found in Beaufort Square, Chepstow, last week. Taxi driver Gary Snook says he found the device outside William Hill Booking shop and took it home to print the pictures in an attempt to trace the owner. Mr Snook, of Silver
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Family bakery uses its loaf to impress judges in competition
A MONMOUTH bakery has been chosen as one of the best rural retailers in South Wales. Wigmore's, a family-run business in St Mary's Street, has been voted as one of the four regional finalists for the Countryside Alliance's Best Rural Retailer competition
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Promotion looks likely for Mathern
Division One Tintern Abbey again put in a title winning display in front of their partisan fans. 6-0 the final score as Portskewett A visited the Abbey Stadium. Goals for Tintern seem to be scored from all positions these days. Gareth Moore scored his
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Winn to fly the flag
ABERGAVENNY cycling duo Julian Winn and Steven Roach have been named among the nine-strong party to fly the flag for Wales in March's Commonwealth Games in Australia. Games veteran Winn, 33, now also Wales' national coach, and Roach, 21, will join gold
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Weather keeps Chepstow at home
CHEPSTOW Town's hopes of climbing up the Division Three table were again dashed by the weather at the weekend, leaving Chris Lillygreen's men ill-prepared for their long trip to Newcastle Emlyn this Saturday, writes Keith Fairbank The Westerners lead
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Wales aiming for a Winn-win situation
ABERGAVENNY cycling duo Julian Winn and Steven Roach have been named among the nine-strong party to fly the flag for Wales in March's Commonwealth Games in Australia, writes Keith Fairbank Games veteran Winn, 33, pictured, now also Wales' national coach
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Lack of discipline is Caldicot's undoing
TEAM coach Kevin Shuck labelled his side's narrow defeat to St Joseph's of Cardiff "one to forget", citing ill-discipline as one of key factors in the 19-16 reverse, writes Keith Fairbank. But he also heaped praise on the visitors' outside half, who took
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Derek's life will be celebrated
FRIENDS and family of a Caldicot man are to pay tribute to his life and work. Derek Upton, 64, a retired steelworker, went missing with a rifle on Sunday, September 25. His car was found a day later at The Moors, Rogiet and the gun was discovered by the
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'Improved plans' for cattle market
THE controversial plans to redevelop the Aberga-venny cattle market have been significantly improved, and the public will have the chance to see them soon. This was the heartening news for Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet from Steve Greenslade,
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Goals galore as Skenfrith battle to the end
BRIGSTY SPORTS V SKENFRITH 5 4 For the forth time this season Skenfrith Utd conceded two goals before they got started, this week within eight minutes. But Skenny then settled down and got back in to it, attacking the Bringsty side with crisp passing
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MP hears pensioner's dilemma
CALDICOT pensioner Elsie Payne, featured in the Free Press in recent weeks following her fall in her flat, has just been visited by her local MP. Jessica Morden MP, went to see Elsie at her home in Brookside Sheltered Housing complex in Caldicot last
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Fight is on
A CHEPSTOW family whose lives have allegedly been devastated by a prescribed drug have been given the go-ahead from the High Court to seek compensation from its maker. Pamela Dumayne, 37, of St Ewens Road, Bulwark, says her children's lives have been
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Lloyd secures top spot for Caldicot
David Lloyd came to Caldicot Town's rescue in their home game against Morriston in the Macron Welsh League, Division Two on Saturday, scoring a last-gasp winner which took them into top position. Caldicot took over from unbeaten Pontypridd Town, who were
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Peter hopes to get a winner
Trainer Peter Bowen, whose stables in Haverfordwest are closer to Ireland than Chepstow, believed he had the winner last year in Take The Stand. But the tough little horse, which went on to be runner-up earlier this year in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, tipped
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Youngsters prove coach right in showcase match
MIKE Aylett, chairman of Abergavenny RFC, admits he had concerns when coach Gary Lawrence decided to test his youngsters in the second half against Old Illtydians - but later had nothing but praise for the teenage prodigies. He said: "It was a good victory
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Transport minister backs 'Drop it to 40!' campaign
MONMOUTH'S "snowballing" campaign to reduce the speed limit on the A40 has been boosted after the Welsh Assembly Transport Minister Andrew Davies confirmed a reduction was "likely". The 'Drop it to 40!' campaign, headed by County Cllr Eileen Goodrich
