Archive
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Marine's 'world of trouble'
ROYAL MARINE James Blanchard, 25, was warned on Friday he was "in a world of Trouble" after being convicted of attacking a pub doorman. Blanchard, a PT instructor, had denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Christopher Locke by punching him in the
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Archives available to all
BRISTOL and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society is to publish in October a huge catalogue of the mediaeval archives at Berkeley Castle. The estate was acquired from Henry II by Robert Fitzharding whose son, Maurice, took the surname Berkeley. His direct
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Residents fear units are threat to safety
APPROVAL of a planning application for a light industrial development in Kingswood has led to further despair for residents who claim the stretch of road is already lethal. Stroud District Council planners last month agreed the application for three light
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Reel celebrations at historic cinema
VOLUNTEERS working to re-open the historic cinema in Wotton-under-Edge are celebrating after signing a lease with the building's owners and simultaneously announcing a major sponsorship drive. The signing marks a significant milestone in the community
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School is praised
THE BRITISH Primary School in Wotton-under-Edge has been praised for its teaching, management and ethos, by OFSTED inspectors. The team of inspectors was at the school in March for four days and observed a range of lessons, as well as talking to pupils
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Only one winner when you argue with yourself
SIR - With regard to your article titled Warning Pub Could Stay Boarded Up (Gazette, May 14) I am confused! Cllr Dr John Cordwell states that the pub (The Swan) is important to tourism and is an important community space and that the reason for objecting
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Sharpness AFC news
SHARPNESS AFC will be holding their AGM on Sunday, June 6, at the Pier View Hotel. Everyone is welcome to attend. Regarding the club's vacant manager role, anyone interested in the position should call either 01453 811339 or 01453 811329. With Dave Nash
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Promotion dream becomes a reality
BERKELEY Town were delighted last week to learn of their promotion to the Northern Senior League Division One after nearly a fortnight of waiting to hear their fate. The Hunters, who finished third in Division Two after a thrilling season, will be promoted
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Speaking it like the Japanese
PUPILS from Katharine Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-under-Edge have been successful in a national Japanese speech contest for secondary schools. Rebecca Comber, Sarah Chatwin, Hilary Dixon, Heather Nicholls and Kimberley Maceke are all studying Japanese
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Cam come close to ending winless run
Cam 1st XI v Poulton 1st XI AN UNDER strength Cam side battled hard to end their long winless run but ultimately fell to a narrow defeat. Poulton batted first on a slow wicket and quickly found themselves in trouble as opener Higginson was caught by Simon
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Canal death was suicide
PENSIONER Irene Tranter, 83, took a taxi to a canalside beauty spot to drown herself, an inquest heard on Friday. Retired nurse Mrs Tranter had tried twice before to jump into the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal at Purton but had been pulled back by her partner
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Let's all be neighbourly
AN ONGOING dispute between a business and home-owners surrounding its Kingswood base could be resolved through co-operation and discussion between the two parties. Residents of Walkmill Lane turned out in force to last month's meeting of Kingswood Parish
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Voters in a sorry state
SIR - With elections due shortly are we to be voting for councils or cancers? How many of the current councillors are worthy of our votes? Very few, if you look at the facts: 1. They 'gag' the opposite point of view as they did regarding the sale of our
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May Fair was a real sizzler
HOT DOGS sold out as hundreds flocked to Dursley Primary School's May fair in sizzling summer sunshine. The annual event saw parents, children, staff and visitors flock to Highfields, raising a massive £1,800 for school funds. Children enjoyed a fancy
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Sorting out who pays funeral bill
SIR - I am writing further to the letter in last week's Gazette from J Mould headed Funeral Grant. Your correspondent stated that the CAB had confirmed that "if a man during his working life has paid his National Health Stamp for 25 years (or more) on
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Grant aid appeal for church repairs
A CONGREGATION in Wickwar is appealing for help to carry out essential works on the popular village church. The entire heating system at Holy Trinity needs repairing and, although the exact amount required is not yet know, £7,500 is already in hand. The
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Motoring marathon
CASTLE Combe Race Circuit will be hosting one of the biggest and most unique car extravaganzas of the year this summer. The Charitable Sports and Supercar Day 2004 is a huge fundraising event, and motorsport fans will flock to the Chippenham-based circuit
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Plan is thrown out
NOT a single word of discussion was needed before plans to move the region's only motorcycle training centre to Pucklechurch were abandoned by councillors. The proposed centre, in Shortwood Road, was strongly opposed by planners, the parish council and
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Family connections with Violet Mills
SIR - I am researching my family tree and would like to gather any information about Violet Mary Charles Mills (nee Longman). She was born on October 3, 1910 in Thornbury. She married Frederick Charles Mills on February 17 1929 in Bristol and had at least
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Tesco staff raise £1,700 in Race for Life
WOMEN members of staff at Thornbury's Tesco store raised £1,700 for the fight against cancer on Sunday when they took part in the Race of Life event on Clifton Downs. "It was very hot and there were times when some of us wished we were back in the store
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It's purr-fect for Persians
A RESCUE Centre for Persian cats opens in Coalpit Heath tomorrow. The centre, can house up to eight abandoned cats, is being run by Isabelle Davenport, a retired veterinary receptionist. Mrs Davenport, of The Brake, said: "I decided to start the rescue
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Weekend Picture
A huge splash of spring colour on the Moreton Road roundabout in Thornbury Picture by Steve Richards GSR354H04
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No cash for elderly carer
A PENSIONER has told the Gazette he is being denied money to which he feels he is entitled for looking after his disabled wife because he receives a state pension. Colin McDonnell, 71, of Frenchay, has looked after his wife Maureen, who suffers from dementia
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Showtime for prisoners
GREEN-FINGERED prisoners and staff from Leyhill Prison are on the glory trail again with their entry for this year's Chelsea Flower Show. A small group travelled to the show site this week at the start of a frantic period of preparation which will not
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Motoring marathon
CASTLE Combe Race Circuit will be hosting one of the biggest and most unique car extravaganzas of the year this summer. The Charitable Sports and Supercar Day 2004 is a huge fundraising event, and motorsport fans will flock to the Chippenham-based circuit
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Anger at housing plan approval
HOUSES will be built close to a school in Yate, despite vehement opposition from local councillors. Outline plans for 23 homes, consisting of 15 three-bedroom, six two-bedroom and two one-bedroom units, were given the go ahead last week even though the
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Cyril's dedication boosted youth club
SIR - I would like to write a personal tribute to the late Cyril Lambert. I am sure you will get many such tributes, as he was such a prominent figure in the Thornbury community. Cyril and his wife Betty were to many of us in the 60s and 70s surrogate
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Yate, Chipping Sodbury and district diary
Friday, May 21 10am, Chipping Sodbury Church Centre. Tubbie Tots. 2pm, Dyrham Park, Digging the Dirt - stories from the borders, join a member of the garden team for a potted history of Dyrham and its garden, meet at the Orangery. 7-9pm, Coalpit Heath
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Memorial dedication remembered
RESIDENTS of Westerleigh met on the village green for a service to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the dedication of the war memorial. Wreaths were laid at the Sunday's service which attracted a large number of people including Royal British Legion
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Thornbury diary
Friday, May 21 6pm, Alveston, St Helen's Church. Treasure Hunt. 7.45pm, Thornbury, Methodist Church Hall, Thornbury Methodist Players present The Happy Marriage by John Clements. 8pm, Thornbury, Chantry Community Centre, Royal British Legion meeting.
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All that jazz swings in
THORNBURY'S Mardi Gras jazz event at the Chantry over the weekend provided a tempting taste of a possible annual event. Do you know the way to St Jose? asks the song. Well, the headliners - the 10th Avenue Band, from that Californian city, certainly had
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Archives available to all
BRISTOL and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society is to publish in October a huge catalogue of the mediaeval archives at Berkeley Castle. The estate was acquired from Henry II by Robert Fitzharding whose son, Maurice, took the surname Berkeley. His direct
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Showtime for prisoners
GREEN-FINGERED prisoners and staff from Leyhill Prison are on the glory trail again with their entry for this year's Chelsea Flower Show. A small group travelled to the show site this week at the start of a frantic period of preparation which will not
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Weekend picture
A huge splash of spring colour on the Moreton Road roundabout in Thornbury Picture by Steve Richards GSR354H04
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Teens leave broken glass in play areas
YOUTHS who gathered on Yate Common at the weekend have been strongly criticised for leaving litter and broken glass on the cycleway and in the play area. Teenagers assembled at the site on Saturday night and, according to one resident, did not leave until
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Tournament honours inspirational captain
THE inaugural tournament for the Steve Callaway Cup was a tremendous and emotional occasion made possible by the involvement and participation of many people. The competition was held over the weekend in memory of former Almondsbury FC club captain Steve
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Dilemma over April 23
NEXT year's St George's Day celebrations in Yate could rival something we normally associate with St Patrick's Day on March 17. Ireland's patron saint is remembered in true, patriotic style every year and now, town councillors in Yate are to discuss how
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Cards signed for debt campaign
CHURCHGOERS from all seven churches in Thornbury, together with others from Alveston and Frampton Cotterell, marked World Debt Day on Sunday by signing Call for Change cards produced by the Jubilee Debt Campaign. This was part of a chain of actions aimed
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Showtime for prisoners
GREEN-FINGERED prisoners and staff from Leyhill Prison are on the glory trail again with their entry for this year's Chelsea Flower Show. A small group travelled to the show site this week at the start of a frantic period of preparation which will not
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Search is on for Rosebuds
WITH the search on for Dursley Rosebuds - girls aged between four and 11 who will lead the Town Festival carnival procession on Saturday, July 10 - the Gazette has heard from Marian Whitlock, of Cam, who was a Rosebud 50 years ago. After reading about
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Events around the region
Berkeley, Cam, Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge 2004 Friday, May 21 8.45-10.30am, Wotton, The Chipping Club Room. Friday market. 10-11.30am, Slimbridge, Village Hall. Slimbridge Toddler Club. 1.30-3.30pm, Cam, Memorial Hall. Tea dance. 7pm, Whitminster,
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Ten years of fighting for rail commuters
A VITAL transport link serving Cam and Dursley celebrates a milestone anniversary this week. As Cam and Dursley station passes its first decade in operation Dr Clive Mowforth of station campaign group Coaley Junction Action Group here tells the Gazette
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I expect value for money
SIR - With regard to the letter from the anonymous postal worker (Gazette, May 14), I am taken aback by the tone of his reaction to my carefully worded letter. Am I to assume that as a customer I have no right to comment on the service I receive from
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Chairman to serve new term
BERKELEY Town Council has re-elected Cllr Ralph Pinnell as chairman after he was the only nominee. Cllr John Freeland, who made the nomination, said: "I know the tremendous amount of work that he puts in. I suggest that, if we did not have him, our rates
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New hope for pensions
FORMER employees of Lister Petter who were facing a bleak future may have a glimmer of hope to ease the strain of the recent pensions crisis at the firm. But, despite news of a cash injection into struggling pension funds, employees fighting for a fairer
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You must learn to lose as well as win
SIR - In reply to the letter last week, Parents should set a good example, I would like to also thank the organisers of the Everside six-a-side tournament held a couple of weeks ago. I agree with a lot of the comments expressed especially about children
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Taylor juggles with success
WITH Surrey and Gloucestershire finishing first and second respectively in the National League last season, a battle between the top two one-day sides in England appeared to be on the cards as the teams met on Sunday at the County Ground. However, with
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Why have so many failed with hotel?
SIR - I cannot understand why so many people in latter years have failed with The Swan Hotel. When I lived in London in 1980 I mentioned to a work colleague there that my parents were retiring to a place called Wotton-under-Edge, and he said 'Oh, where
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'Young litter most'
A RESIDENT who is becoming increasingly infuriated by the amount of rubbish littering the streets of Dursley claims young people and schoolchildren are the biggest offenders. Donald and Susan Hollins moved to Downham View from East Kent around nine months
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Showtime for prisoners
GREEN-FINGERED prisoners and staff from Leyhill Prison are on the glory trail again with their entry for this year's Chelsea Flower Show. A small group travelled to the show site this week at the start of a frantic period of preparation which will not
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Cameras help crime fight
THE MERITS of CCTV and the new police community support officers were highlighted at the latest Dursley Inspector Neighbourhood Area Community Consultative meeting in Uley. Insp Paul Donovan reported both innovations had made a positive impact. He said
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Fresh bid to find a site
OBJECTORS to a proposed scheme that could see a skateboarding facility put in a toddlers' play park made their feelings plain to Berkeley Town Council on Monday. More than 20 people, mainly from Park View Road, attended the meeting to demonstrate opposition
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Support grows for village shop
A VILLAGE shop for Westerleigh is looking increasingly likely as support grows for the venture. The parish lost its only shop and post office last year following the untimely death of post master Stuart Ruff. Now villagers have shown their strength of
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Refurbished centre re-opens
THE RIDGEWOOD Community Centre has re-opened following a £2 million face-lift. The centre was officially opened on Friday, which also marked the start of Adult Learners' Week. The Grade II listed building in Yate will provide a multi-use learning facility
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Agenda to cause disruption
SIR - I have to agree with the sentiments expressed in Drivers don't like Chaos (Gazette, May 14). It seems that the present incumbents of the county council are acting out a hidden agenda to cause as much disruption and inconvenience to motorists as
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Walk support reaches £15,000
ALVESTON marathon man Steve Dayman completed his 15th gruelling walk on Sunday, May 9 - raising a further £15,000 for the battle against meningitis. The seven day, 140 mile march linked the charity's offices in Downend with the two research centres the
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Philip is new head teacher
CHIPPING SODBURY School has a new man at the top after going through two-thirds of the school year without a headteacher. Phillip Lidstone took over the running of the school at Easter, filling the void that had only been temporarily filled since Tom
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Team challenge for all charities
A SUCCESSFUL company specialising in organising fundraising challenge events for charities has moved to Tockington. Global Challenge UK has relocated to Elms Farm from it previous base in Somerset because of the Thornbury area's superior road links with
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Grant aid appeal for church repairs
A CONGREGATION in Wickwar is appealing for help to carry out essential works on the popular village church. The entire heating system at Holy Trinity needs repairing and, although the exact amount required is not yet know, £7,500 is already in hand. The
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Visitor dies in car crash
AN AMERICAN visitor died when the car he was driving veered off the M5 at Almondsbury and crashed on to three vehicles queuing on an exit slip road. Mystery still surrounds the horror smash on Monday evening when a Ford Focus driven by Myles Tralins,
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Old Down lose out in close encounter
Phoenix WI v Old Down 1st XI OLD Down, playing their first game of the season, lost a close encounter with Phoenix West Indians by ten runs last Saturday. Batting first on an unsatisfactory surface, Phoenix were soon in trouble as Ian Maunder removed
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Celebrate village life by entering Calor contest
THE clock is ticking for South Gloucestershire villages intending to take part in the 2004 Calor Village of the Year competition. Sue Gawler, of the Avonside branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, is warning that villages will miss
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With the Reds
CITY finally exorcised their play-off semi-final ghost of twelve months ago as the man from Cardiff booked his team a final place in his home city. Christian Roberts has had a mixed season in terms of success, but his last gasp strike in Wednesday night's
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Marvellous night for a Moonwalk
FIVE Thornbury friends who took part in last weekend's charity Moonwalk in London hope to have raised more than £1000 for breast cancer research. Annie Parker, Gill Stenning, Laurette Edwards, Marjorie Warren and Zoe Gilbraith padded round the capital
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It's first class for fiction
"A SECOND class stamp, please - oh, and can you recommend a first class detective novel?" That's the kind of the request that will now be commonplace in Severn Beach with the opening of a library in the village post office. The venture - the first of
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Lurcher suffers horrific injuries
AN appeal has been launched to trace the owners of a badly mistreated dog found in Almondsbury. The lurcher/greyhound, which may have been stolen, was suffering from a catalogue of injuries including to its ears, which had to be amputated by vets. Council
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Piece of history - from the air
Copies of this aerial view of the hill fort off the A46 between Little Sodbury and Old Sodbury may be purchased from the Gazette reception. Call 01453 544000 for further details quoting reference number CP11/02/34.
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Taylor juggles with success
WITH Surrey and Gloucestershire finishing first and second respectively in the National League last season, a battle between the top two one-day sides in England appeared to be on the cards as the teams met on Sunday at the County Ground. However, with
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Town waste site gets council's approval
THE long wait for a purpose-built household waste tip in Thornbury could soon be over. South Gloucestershire Council chiefs have given the go ahead for the compulsory purchase to secure a site in Short Way on the town's industrial estate for use as a
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Small schools up for debate
SMALL schools in South Gloucestershire have been on the agenda at Westminster as ministers were asked to support them and their future. Northavon MP Steve Webb made his case to the Department of Education and Skills to protect schools such as Horton Primary
