Topics about organisations and activities in Warminster.
Highbury Youth F.C.
Under 13B
1985 – 1986
Back row, left to right:
Anthony Shepherd, Matthew Tazewell, Daniel Elloway,
Jason Blanford, Robert Nash, Paul Kent.
Front row, left to right:
Steven Fear, Steven Manley, Kevin Wood,
Andrew Washbrook, Kevin Ball, Darren Macduff.
Friday 13th December 2024
From artist Tanya Hinton:
As many of you will probably know Hashtag Bad Hair [at 7 Silver Street, Warminster] had their window smashed so I have tried to brighten it up! This painting is on the inside so as not to distract from their Christmas window art! I’m sure they won’t mind anyone going in and taking a peek though, it’s a very cool salon and worth a visit!
Thursday 12th December 2024
An anonymous post on the Facebook page Spotted In Warminster Town:
Would anyone actually visit an online version of the Warminster Journal? I’m an AI engineer and it wouldn’t take a lot to create a story submission portal (announcements, sports, local news etc) and use AI to write and publish the stories.
Blog type format. Stories updated every 2-3 days, but in more detail than would appear on socials (like Spotted In Warminster Town and Heart Of Warminster). Would rely on individuals to submit brief story details (100-200 words plus any photos), football / cricket write ups, etc to an online form. Free initially, then free with ads or subscription model for no ads.
Thursday 12th December 2024
Wiltshire Publications – Strong Community Support Needed To Revive The Warminster Journal
Joe McCann of Wiltshire Publications, writes:
I’m Joe McCann, Operations Manager at Wiltshire Publications, the team behind the White Horse News, Melksham News and Frome Times.
As many of you know, the Warminster Journal is sadly coming to an end this week. We now have a meeting scheduled with the owner to explore the possibility of bringing this much-loved local title back into production.
With over 40 years of experience producing free, high-quality local newspapers for Wiltshire, we’re keen to hear from the community about the appetite for reviving the Warminster Journal. To make this possible, we’d need strong community support and interest from local businesses willing to advertise to ensure it’s financially viable.
If you’re a local business or organisation that might consider advertising, or if you’d like to share your thoughts on this potential revival, please get in touch. You can reach me directly at joe@wiltshirepublications.co.uk.
Thursday 12th December 2024
From the Facebook page of Longleat:
All the beautiful Christmas trees on display in Longleat House this festive season, including one inspired by Queen Elizabeth I to celebrate 450 years since her visit in 1574. Which one do you wish you could have in your living room?
From the front page of the Warminster Journal, Thursday 12th December 2024:
Thank You And Goodbye
It is with sad hearts that we must tell you that this is the last Warminster Journal we are publishing. During the covid period many advertisers moved away from publications like ours onto on-line sites – they never came back.
Therefore over those years we have had to subsidise the Journal with savings from before. Now with other problems in production we feel the time has come to step back and say goodbye.
It has been great seeing and sharing the news of our town of Warminster and the area around us. This we shall particularly miss. We are so thankful for the many articles submitted and that, almost family, relationship we have experienced.
We must not forget the wonderful members of staff we have had the privilege of working with over all these years. Without them the Journal would not have been able to continue for as long as it has. Our newspaper has served the people of Warminster, Westbury, Mere and the surrounding area for more than 140 years and our journey together has now come to an end. We wish you all well in the years to come.
Our newsagent and stationery shop, Coates & Parker, along with the photocopying and printing departments will remain open and welcoming. We hope to see your visits.
There is little more we can say except there is a possibility someone will willingly take the Journal on and start publishing it again in the new year.
With our best wishes for Christmas and New Year and your futures.
Diana Watkins and Ray Shorto (joint editors).
Thursday 12th December 2024
As Issue No.7,419 of the Warminster Journal is published today, the final issue as the editor Ray Shorto has decided to end it, here are a few comments from Facebook pages:
Terry Hillier:
Genuinely sad for the paper and the name but hardly surprising. The last time I read it, there were 8 pages . . . . no online version, out-dated content and generally pointless. News papers (papers) are a thing of the past. Yesterday’s news at best, or indeed last week’s, in this instance. Instant media is what grabs peoples’ attention. Why did they not invest in an app? Update as stories came in and save on paper too? The shop won’t be around too long after this. If it hasn’t fallen down before it closes. I am sincerely sorry about this. Poor direction as always. #remaininthepast #become-extinct.
Gas Guzler:
Sorry to hear this but to be honest it was the same stuff each week ,or it started to become a picture book . . . if it wasn’t “the toad road” it was the all other areas being mentioned. I find more on my shopping receipt to read than I do in the Journal nowadays.
Sally Gerrish:
Alan Gallagher used to call it “the 3 minute silence’ cos that’s how long it took to read it.
Nigel Hampton:
This is sad news for all concerned. But when local news is delivered on sites like this in an instant and for ‘free’ (as long as you allow the algorithm to track your every view and click), it’s very difficult for a weekly town-based printed newspaper in 2024. In just over 10 years, even the number of national newspapers sold each day in the UK has fallen from more than 9 million to less than 3 million. I believe local journalism is a force for good and for the community but any profitable future now really involves being online (like the Frome Times – both online and freely distributed fortnightly with 12,000 copies). It seems that’s a step the Journal has been unwilling or unable to take.
Christine Mabbett:
The Editor is blinkered. He has overlooked the fact that Warminster is surrounded by vibrancy, a talented younger generation and worldwide technology. He would be wise to get his hands on a copy of Scilly Times. This publication gets sent out far and wide since being revamped a few ago.
Samantha Ritchie:
Sad, but it’s a shame they couldn’t have found a way of bringing it more into the modern world. That’s its downfall, really. As most of the major newspapers are finding, you have to move with the times.
David McGirr:
It’s sad that it’s going but as a local business, I found that it was only interested in revenue from adverts rather than news. If there was a story from a local business, they would run it, but only if you took an advert of the same size! Sad for the team involved but as many have said, the management didn’t move with the times and encompass the younger generation.
Nikki Dancey:
This is very sad, and the Journal has been a big part of many lives growing up. However, I think in this day and age of instant news and everything being online, people want their news like that, particularly younger generations, so it was inevitable that sales would dwindle. A sign of the times unfortunately, but very sad.
Thursday 12th December 2024
From the Facebook page of Warminster Police:
We are appealing for witnesses to a serious assault that took place in Weymouth Street at 11pm on November 23.
A male was reportedly attacked by another male and required hospital treatment.
If you were in the area and saw this incident take place, please call 101 quoting crime reference number 54240138759.
Wednesday 11th December 2024
Press release from Warminster Town Council:
Warminster & District Foodbank Volunteers Spread Christmas Cheer
The Warminster & District Foodbank is spreading some extra Christmas cheer by sending out treats and selection boxes to local children and families this festive season.
The Foodbank, run by volunteers, covers Warminster and surrounding villages, and works in partnership with other charities, health, social services, housing, and education services who refer clients for food assistance.
The team are currently preparing parcels within The Athenaeum Centre ready to send to local children and families who have been identified as needing extra help near Christmas.
Jean Colgrave, who has been at the Foodbank since 2009, explained: “It’s an annual project where we send out Christmas goody bags for children and families, just to give a bit of Christmas cheer and a little bit of extra joy to let them know that we’re thinking of them.
“We’ve had donations of cash as well as food [this Christmas] and we are so grateful for it, because without it, we just couldn’t survive.”
The Warminster & District Foodbank is located within The Athenaeum Centre for the Community. Access is from a dedicated entrance along The Close (just off the High Street, Warminster, BA12 9AL), which is signposted.
To request food on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday (9am to 12.30pm) phone 01985 214463 or 07855 627945. For out of hours, emergency only, telephone 07855 627945.
To donate to the Foodbank there are collection boxes at supermarkets across Warminster including Lidl, Morrisons and Waitrose or visit www.warminsteranddistrictfoodbank.co.uk for more information.
Wednesday 11th December 2024
From the Warminster Journal website:
We are devastated to confirm that the rumours are true. Editor Ray has concluded this week to cease publication for good and has informed staff today. We are reeling at the abrupt decision just before Christmas. Thank you everyone for your support. We have done all we can and tried to serve our community as a newspaper should.
Warminster has sadly lost a significant part of its history today and we appreciate your well wishes as we lament this momentous occasion for our wonderful town.
