Blogs

Sandy Thwaites is a horse and countryside lover

Last updated 13th December 2011 - 19:45

Horse and countryside lover, Sandy, gave up the London rat race on a ‘down shift’ to Wiltshire about 15 years ago and has never looked back. She has two horses at home – an ex-racehorse and a New Forest youngster - as well as a neurotic rescue mongrel and a senile ‘sort-of-Jack Russell’. Read her thoughts on the latest horsey issues and the trials and tribulations of living in the middle of nowhere and working from home...

News from Kate Fleming, Editor of Wiltshire Magazine

Last updated 10th March 2011 - 10:56

What's happening and who's who in the county

Wiltshire Wildlife from Dave Kilbey

Last updated 3rd January 2011 - 11:48

Dave Kilbey is a Wildlife Photographer, writer and freelance digital imaging trainer. He also teaches at the University of Bristol. Based in Chippenham and brought up in a small village in North Wiltshire he has been hooked on the natural world from the word go. Eternally distracted by anything that flies, crawls, slithers or swims it’s a wonder he finds the time to work at all! Dave regularly blogs about Wiltshire’s wildlife and issues of conservation concern

Tom Mellors enjoys writing and the variety it creates

Last updated 21st November 2010 - 21:05

Apart from my time at university and an unpleasant 6 month stint in London, I have lived in Devizes (in Wiltshire) all of my life. As the product of an Anglo-American union - a somewhat different "special" relationship - I grew up viewing Wiltshire with both the familiarity of a native and the novelty of a visitor. I currently balance a day job with my freelance writing, enjoying the variety it creates.

The musical world of Simon Faulkner

Last updated 15th November 2010 - 20:44

I am 22 years old and have lived in Market Lavington all my memorable life. I attended King Edwards School in Bath and after studying geography at the University of Plymouth for three years I have now returned to Wiltshire to look for as many opportunities as I can. Music has been my passion since I was about 14, be that playing (guitar and bass guitar), listening, and going to live shows. I also love sailing and windsurfing, fashion, fantasy and science-fiction, and the natural world.

Samantha Geddes' life in a Wiltshire wonderland

Last updated 18th October 2010 - 10:47

I was born and bred in beautiful North Wales and recently ventured south to live in the Wonderful Wiltshire Wonderland, with my husband and four children. I run my own professional organising service called ‘Organised Little Things’. Making precious time to spend with family is really important to me so I am always thinking of new solutions to organise the family during the week so the weekends are just for fun!

Megan Bowyer, is the current Miss Wiltshire 2010

Last updated 15th October 2010 - 10:14

I was crowned Miss Wiltshire in May this year, having never entered any kind of beauty competition before! Having the title Miss Wiltshire gained me automatic entry into the Miss England Competition, which was held in September at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel. Now I have a little more free time, I would like to get involved with more local and charitable events and do my best to promote Wiltshire. As well as holding this title I have just started a Sports Therapy degree at Bath Uni.

Nigel Tyrie's comments from Salisbury

Last updated 4th October 2010 - 15:50

I was born in Coronation Year in the salubrious parish of Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea; employing the verb loosely, was educated first at prep school in Westcliff-on-Sea then attended an irredeemably third rate public school sunk in the wastes of the sugar beet fields of central Essex; too dim for University, started life in the family retailing business first as junior sous plongeur in the staff canteen later rising to the vertiginous heights of deputy assistant sales assistant

Danielle Jalowiecka from Devizes, Wiltshire, is currently studying for her MA in Music Performance

Last updated 3rd May 2010 - 20:17

Danielle Jalowiecka, raised in Devizes, Wiltshire, is currently studying for her MA in Music Performance on the Recorder in Paris, France, after having graduated from her Undergraduate degree with First Class Honours at the Royal College of Music in London. A keen audience-member and participant in varied genres of music and dance has led to her growing passion for writing about these interests that are so active in her chosen career path.

Katharine Ames mixes rural and Salisbury city life

Last updated 1st May 2010 - 13:19

Katharine brought her family to south west Wiltshire in 2007. She wishes that her house were always clean and tidy and her garden bursting with colourful shrubs and flowers. But wishing does not work. Nor does she. She blames her two big dogs, her two medium-sized children and her husband who is helpful but hardly ever home. And the fact that there is so much to see and do on her doorstep and as part of her daily routine.

Anna Vaught is a teacher and English tutor in Wiltshire.

Last updated 26th February 2010 - 13:59

Anna Vaught is a teacher and English tutor in Wiltshire. She is also a freelance journalist and writer - with a particular interest in thrifty and heritage recipes from Britain and around the world. Her book, My Mother's Kitchen, My Father's Garden was published last year, with a second volume of this lively kitchen diary due out in May 2010. Anna is also a busy mother of young children and the owner of Calcutta Scarlet Fine Indian catering, which specialises in Indian home cooking and community

Jill Shearer is an author and journalist living in the North Wiltshire village of Great Somerford

Jill Shearer is an author and journalist living in the North Wiltshire village of Great Somerford with a small family and a very badly behaved dog. An inveterate dabbler in all manner of things, she has written on a wide variety of topics – from ethical and green issues to personal finance, toddler taming, gardening and interior design. She has recently written a history of Great Somerford’s historic allotment site – the oldest in the land

News from Rachel Cooke registered dietitian for Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset PCT

I am a Registered dietitian working for Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset PCT specialising in weight management. I qualified 15 yrs ago and have worked in industry as well as the NHS and also work promoting best practice and accurate best practice information with both local and national media. Moved to Bath to get married last yr and promote all in moderation re food intake and so dietitians really can have their cake and eat it!

Lizzi Vandorpe is a respected author in the fields of spirituality, essences of love

Lizzi Vandorpe is a respected author in the fields of spirituality, essences of love and human kindness. Her publications, which include The Blessings Book and The Blessings Book of Marriage have been assigned ISBN numbers. Plans to add two further books to the Blessings series, exploring the themes of abundance and children, are currently in hand. Lizzi is also a motivational speaker, available for public, private and commercial engagements. www.theblessingsbook.com