• Wiltshire Publications
  • White Horse News
  • Frome Times
Sunday, June 15, 2025
16 °c
Melksham
16 ° Mon
16 ° Tue
  • Login
  • Register
Melksham Independent News
Advertisement
  • Latest News
  • About Us
  • Digital Edition
  • Back Issues
  • Contact us
  • Advertise with us
  • Family Messages
  • Directory
  • More

    Search

    News

    • Latest News
    • Special Featured Stories
    • Featured Stories
    • Min News
    • Crime
    • Traffic News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Business
    • Politics

    Sport

    • Melksham FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • General Sport
    • Cricket
    • Golf
    • Bowls

    Best of Melksham

    • Melksham Community
    • Fundraising
    • Volunteering & Helping Out
    • Clubs Organisations

    What's on

    • Events Entertainment
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Things to do

    Family Messages

    • Announcements
    • Death Notices
    • In Memoriam
    • Birthday
    • Engagement
    • Wedding Messages
    • Melksham Says Thank You
    • Awards

    Digital Editions

    • Digital Edition
    • Digital Archives

    Podcast Celebrate Melksham

    • Podcast
    • Subscribe to podcast
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • About Us
  • Digital Edition
  • Back Issues
  • Contact us
  • Advertise with us
  • Family Messages
  • Directory
  • More

    Search

    News

    • Latest News
    • Special Featured Stories
    • Featured Stories
    • Min News
    • Crime
    • Traffic News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Business
    • Politics

    Sport

    • Melksham FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • General Sport
    • Cricket
    • Golf
    • Bowls

    Best of Melksham

    • Melksham Community
    • Fundraising
    • Volunteering & Helping Out
    • Clubs Organisations

    What's on

    • Events Entertainment
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Things to do

    Family Messages

    • Announcements
    • Death Notices
    • In Memoriam
    • Birthday
    • Engagement
    • Wedding Messages
    • Melksham Says Thank You
    • Awards

    Digital Editions

    • Digital Edition
    • Digital Archives

    Podcast Celebrate Melksham

    • Podcast
    • Subscribe to podcast
No Result
View All Result
Melksham Independent News
No Result
View All Result

World Championship glory for Melksham canoeist!

July 5, 2022
in Latest news
Reading Time: 2 mins read
397 25
A A
0

MELKSHAM’S Alex Edwards won the silver medal at the 2022 Canoe Freestyle World Championships in the men’s kayak squirt final. 

Alex Edwards on the podium (left).

Alex, who trains on the River Avon in Melksham, won the silver in front of a home crowd in Nottingham. It is Alex’s third consecutive silver medal at the World Championships, to go with two European Championship titles and two World Cup titles. 

His coach Dee Paterson reports, “Freestyle kayaking is akin to gymnastics in a kayak with athletes having one minute to demonstrate a series of complex moves, with each scoring points. The more difficult the trick the higher the points. 

“The heats took place on Monday 27th June, with each competitor having two one-minute runs, with the scores added together to decide which 10 athletes would make it through. Alex put together two high scoring runs to go through in first place. 

“There was little time to relax with the semi-finals on Tuesday 28th June, this time with each paddler having two runs with the best single score counting. Going in to his first run Alex knew what was needed to see him through and he delivered another high score to progress to the final. 

“The final is a best of three rounds affair with Alex up against his fellow British athletes Sam and Jamie, along with a pair of Americans including the two-time defending champion Clay Wright. 

“The final was one of the most exciting competitions for some time with all five paddlers in contention for the victory. After the first round Alex was sitting in first place with over 1,200 points, but with less than 200 points separating the field it was still all to play for. There were small improvements in the second round which left Alex in 1st in an all-British 1,2,3.  

“In the final round, first to go was Sam who produced his highest score of the day to leap to the top of the leaderboard. But within minutes Clay produced his highest score over 1,480 points to jump into the lead with just two paddlers remaining. Next up was Taft from the USA, sitting in 5th he produced his highest score of the completion to put himself into 2nd place. 

“All of this meant that as Alex prepared for his final run, the last of the competition he was down in 4th place, meaning he had to improve his score to have any chance of a medal. 

“His first move didn’t go as planned, but Alex remaining composed throughout and with a flurry of quick moves gave the judges plenty to think about. After an agonizing wait his final score was announced as 1,444 points. This was enough to move him up to second place and the Silver medal, less than 40 points off Gold.” 

Share234Tweet146Pin53

Related Stories

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust celebrate dedicated volunteers

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust celebrate dedicated volunteers

June 4, 2025
0

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is celebrating the efforts of local volunteers as part of the national Volunteers Week...

Melksham Times Past

Melksham Times Past

June 4, 2025
0

A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in...

Children learn why money matters at school workshop

Children learn why money matters at school workshop

June 4, 2025
0

Children at Bowerhill Primary School learnt why ‘Money Matters’ at a special finance workshop recently, held for the third year...

Lib Dems take Wiltshire Council in tense series of votes

Lib Dems take Wiltshire Council in tense series of votes

June 4, 2025
0

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison Wiltshire Council is now under the control of the Liberal Democrats. Following a nail-biting...

Recommended

  • All
  • Latest news
  • Environment
  • Fundraising
  • Politics
  • Wiltshire Council
  • Clubs & Organisations
  • Volunteering and helping out
  • Whats on

Shaw & Whitley W.I.

March 27, 2019

Town’s manager commits to club after historic season

May 10, 2022

Follow Social Media

  • Developer submits new homes designs after last attempt branded ‘ugly’

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison with further reporting by Melksham News

Property developer Bewley Homes has submitted updated designs for an 88-house development at Holt, after a previous attempt was branded ‘ugly’ by planners.

In February, Wiltshire Council’s western area planning committee rejected the reserved matters application for the land off Melksham Road, with local member Cllr Trevor Carbin branding the design as “basically ugly.”

Residents, joined by MP Brian Mathew and members of Holt Parish Council, also gathered at the site to voice their concerns over the designs.

New plans were submitted this week for the development on the eastern edge of the village, which will be known as Elmridge Meadows. 

Pictured: Residents and Holt parish councillors with Brian Mathew MP at the proposed development

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • New social club brings Melksham together

A new grassroots initiative in the heart of Melksham is offering something simple yet much-needed: a welcoming space for local people to come together. 

The Social and Skills Club, based at That Meeting Space, hosts monthly sessions full of fun, creativity, and companionship from bingo and crafts to quizzes and informal chats.

“In a time when libraries and other community venues are dwindling, many people find themselves missing a place that isn’t work or home – somewhere they can just be,” said Paula Eaves, Community Support Manager at Abney & Baker, one of the club’s organisers.

“That’s exactly what the Social and Skills Club aims to provide: a true “third space”, open to everyone, where friendly faces and shared interests bring people together without pressure or expectation. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Eco fashion duo exchange ideas at top sustainable event

Two founders of a new sustainable fashion initiative have shared their concept at one of London’s leading eco fashion events. 

Meagan Powell, from Melksham, and Gracie May, from Westbury, founded Swap Society earlier this year to work with independent venues to hold sustainable fashion events.

After a successful launch event at Doubles in Melksham, Meagan and Gracie were sent tickets to The Good Clothes Show in London. The event saw the biggest names in sustainable and vintage clothing come together at the Old Town Hall in Chelsea.

Gracie, who is manager of the Dorothy House charity shop in Westbury, said, “Everyone sang from the same hymn sheet as us and had the same morals and ethics as we do as a brand.

“We spoke with vendors who sold pre-loved items, while others had created their own garments from end-of-line fabrics or reused materials. We tried on sustainable wedding dresses, there was a room full of sustainably made hats – the whole experience was amazing.” 

Pictured: Meagan and Gracie on their way to the event, Meagan, Gracie

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Young runners celebrate junior parkrun milestone

Three young runners have reached a significant milestone at Melksham’s junior parkrun, earning silver wristbands for completing 100 events.

Anna, aged 6, and Esme and Maggie, both aged 7, were recently awarded their silver wristbands in recognition of their dedication to the weekly 2km runs at King George V playing fields.

The Melksham junior parkrun takes place every Sunday morning at 9am and is open to children aged between four and 14. The free event involves running four laps of the park.

Participants are awarded coloured wristbands to celebrate their achievements: blue for 11 runs (half marathon), green for 21 runs (marathon), orange for 50 (ultra marathon), and silver for the 100-run milestone. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Holt Morris dancers entertain at local folk festival

A morris dancing group from Holt helped launch the Bank Holiday Monday celebrations at this year’s Chippenham Folk Festival, one of the country’s major folk events.

Bell’s Angels joined forces with Chippenham Morris Men to open the day’s programme of dance, performing in the middle of the High Street.

“Each side danced several alternate dances and ended with a joint session of Shepherds Hey,” said Bell’s Angels member Sue Mortimer. “Great fun was had by all and it was lovely to dance in front of such an appreciative crowd, which in Morris tradition brought out the sunshine!”

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Residents move forward with plans to revive village pub
 
Residents in Semington are taking the next step in their plans to reopen the village’s pub for the community.

Seven residents have formed a team with the aim to potentially take on the Somerset Arms, which closed in 2023, and has been on sale since last November.

The idea would be for the residents to form a Community Benefit Society, a type of social enterprise that serves the needs of a community, and reinvent the pub.

“If we attempt this CBS approach, it is a big task and will need many more than the seven of us to make this happen. All sorts of skills are needed as well as financial support,” said one of the residents. 

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • New rugby league teams launching in Melksham

Melksham Rugby Club is launching a new rugby league section this summer, with both men’s and women’s teams for those aged 17 and over.

The launch marks a significant expansion for the club, offering members and the local community a new opportunity to engage with the sport.

The men’s team, named the Melksham Tyremen, draws on the town’s history of tyre making with Cooper Avon Tyres, which closed in December 2023.

The team has already scheduled its first fixture, taking on the Somerset Vikings on Saturday 14th June, with kick-off at 2.30pm. 

Pictured: Thomas Culshaw, lead coach, player and team manager

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Young army cadet takes on special civic role

A young army cadet has been selected for the role of Mayoral Cadet and will accompany the mayor at civic events to represent Melksham’s young people.

Lance Corporal William Watters of the Melksham Detachment was chosen by the mayor, Cllr Saffi Rabey, as the Mayoral Cadet for the 2025 to 2026 civic year. Over the year, he will accompany Cllr Rabey at key civic events and serve as a representative of youth involvement in public life.

“We are delighted to welcome Lance Corporal Watters as this year’s Mayoral Cadet,” said Cllr Rabey.

“William’s commitment, leadership and civic-minded spirit exemplify the values Melksham Town Council seeks to promote through this role.”

Mayor Cllr Saffi Rabey with Lance Corporal William Watters

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
  • Upgrades needed to town’s railway services 40 years on

A local transport user group has said there is ‘room for improvement’ in services at Melksham’s railway station, which reopened 40 years ago.

The station now facilitates around 60,000 journeys a year. However, the chair of the Melksham Transport User Group, Graham Ellis, says the service is ‘appalling’ and could be improved — particularly as Melksham is the fourth largest town in Wiltshire.

Melksham Railway Station closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching cuts — a series of closures and reorganisations of the British railway network in the 1960s aimed at making the system more financially viable. 

Pictured:
The station post 1966 - following closure of the line. Picture: Melksham and District Historical Association 
Reopening of line 13 May 1985. Picture: Melksham and District Historical Association (x2)
Present day

Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.
Podcast Celebrate Melksham Podcast Celebrate Melksham Podcast Celebrate Melksham
ADVERTISEMENT
Melksham Independent News

Get in touch

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Self Service Advertising
  • Issue Dates and Deadlines
  • Payment Information
  • Send Us Your News
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Terms Conditions
  • Complaints Procedure
  • Placing a family message
  • Photos
  • Useful Information

More from Melksham News

  • Latest News
  • Sport
  • Digital Edition
  • Digital Archives
  • Newsletters
  • Melksham Says Thank You
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe to Podcast
  • Announcements
  • What's On
  • Local Listings
  • Jobs

FOLLOW US

© 2023. Melksham Independent News | Wiltshire Publications Ltd, 31, Market Place, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6ES Registered in England & Wales | 02627096

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Legal Hub
  • Site Map
Melksham Independent News
Melksham Independent News
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Melksham Independent News
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
    • Featured Stories
    • Min News
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Health
    • Business
    • Politics
  • About Us
  • Digital Edition
    • Digital Edition Archives
  • Contact us
  • Advertising with us
  • Family Messages
    • Announcements
    • Dealth Notices
    • In Memoriam
    • Birthday
    • Engagement
    • Wedding Messages
    • Melksham Says Thank You
    • Awards
  • More
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • Local Listing
    • Book An Advert
    • Sports
    • Best of Melksham
      • Melksham Community
      • Fundraising
      • Volunteering & Helping Out
      • Clubs Organisations
    • What’s on
      • Events Entertainment
      • Arts and Culture
      • Things To Do

© 2023 Melksham Independent News | Web Design & SEO by YOW Internet.

-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00