Gloucestershire Echo, The back issues from January 2008:
Council will spend
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cotswold District Council says it will spend a pot of more thanpounds500,000 as soon as possible. The authority holds pounds565,000 of Section 106 developers'contributions from ...
Folk feast features a star line-up
Jan 02, 2008 ... Big names on the folk music scene will gather at Cheltenham TownHall next month. The 12th Cheltenham Folk Festival has become a firm favourite inthe calendar. The festival's line-up includes nominees for the BBC Radio 2 FolkAwards 2008. Three of the four nominees for ...
Police pair saddle up for charity
Jan 02, 2008 ... Husband-and-wife police officers Sarah and Andy Johnson haveraised more than pounds3,000 in memory of Stephen Pearce. Stephen, who lived in Cheltenham, died from motor neurone diseasejust eight weeks after he was diagnosed, at the age of 46. Inspector Sarah Johnson, 36, and her ...
Traders hit by charge for parking
Jan 02, 2008 ... Shoppers are deserting Winchcombe because of parking charges, saytraders in the town. It now costs pounds1 to use the Back Lane car park andshopkeepers told Winchcombe Business Forum they have already seencustom hit. The parking fee was imposed by Tewkesbury Borough ...
Air crew net charity cash
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cash from a summer pony and novelty dog show has been handed toCounty Air Ambulance paramedics. The Deerhurst and Apperley Pony Show was held in August but themoney has just been collected. The show attracted hundreds of entrants and visitors from acrossthe ...
School to get new eco-bench
Jan 02, 2008 ... The Christmas fair at Charlton Kings Primary has raised pounds460for the school. This year's fair, which was held in the evening instead of theusual day-time, was hailed a great success. The cash will buy eco-benches for the school's playground and new play houses for the ...
I'm so glad I got new lease of life
Jan 02, 2008 ... Barry Mason is looking forward to a bright future thanks to aliver transplant which saved his life. Mr Mason, 64, had been given two months to live when a transplantliver became available last year. Now, a year on, he is enjoying holidays, walking and regulartrips to the golf ...
Dart victim 'will make recovery'
Jan 02, 2008 ... Roy Wells' anxious wait to know whether he would lose the sightof an eye is over. The 53-year-old from Bourton-on-the-Water - who is believed tohave been stabbed in the eye with a dart - has been told by medics he should make a full recovery. Mr Wells could not disguise his ...
I've put my art into dream role
Jan 02, 2008 ... Former businesswoman Celia Atkins has no regrets about pursuingher dream of becoming an artist. It took the collapse of the family firm to persuade Celia to takethe plunge and follow her ambition. With little money and no experience, it was a big risk to take, but Celia says ...
Kids thrilled by surprise bus treats
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Secret Santa special surprised children as they broke up forChristmas. Bus driver Maire Parker decorated her regular Pulham's Coach forBourton-on-the-Water primary. As the youngsters streamed out of school they were greeted by the70-seater festooned with green, blue and ...
Robins are bringers of good cheer
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cheltenham Town Football Club players brought cheer to childrenin hospital. Members of the team visited the Children's Centre atGloucestershire Royal Hospital with board games and toys. The Robins Trust raised money for the presents through weeklyraffles and other ...
Henry makes Xmas extra special
Jan 02, 2008 ... For most parents the first Christmas with their new baby isspecial, but for Deborah and Russell Anderson 2007 was one they willnever forget. Miracle tot Henry overcame the odds to spend the festive periodunder the watchful gaze of his loving family. Doting mum Deborah is full ...
Are you the owner of prize winning ticket?
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Lucky ticket holder is in line for an unclaimed luxury hamperfrom a fundraising raffle. The event was held at the Double Barrel pub in Salisbury Avenue,Cheltenham, on Friday to raise cash for Warden Hill in Bloom. More than pounds250 was raised but the top prize, which ...
We're running for charity
Jan 02, 2008 ... Joggers braved nippy temperatures for a dash around PittvillePark to raise money for charity. Fifteen runners circled the park three times during a 3km runorganised by Cheltenham's Fitness First gym. Their efforts raised more than pounds300 for the British HeartFoundation ....
Windows shattered
Jan 02, 2008 ... Windows were smashed as vandals went on a spree at ChippingCampden. Four properties were attacked in High Street in the early hoursof Saturday. The town's post office had a 6in by 10in pane shattered andanother business had its ...
Who smashed store's window?
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Man tried to smash the window of an Evesham newsagent using apaving slab Police have issued a description of the offender to try to trackhim down. Vine News, in Vine Street, was attacked in the early hours ofDecember 21 by a man, described as in his early 20s, with blond ...
Wizard tale on horizon for rowling
Jan 02, 2008 ... Jk Rowling has dropped a big hint she may pen an eighth HarryPotter book. The 42-year-old author who grew up in the Forest of Dean admitsshe has 'weak moments' when she feels she will write another novelabout the boy wizard. She said ...
Driver lost car control
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Car crashed into a hedge near the Puesdown Inn on the A40 nearNorthleach. A 41-year-old man, from Northleach, ...
Deer scare on a429
Jan 02, 2008 ... An Injured deer nearly caused an accident on the A429 Fosseway. The animal was spotted near the Farmington Quarry entrance at2.15pm on ...
Tank emptied
Jan 02, 2008 ... Oil was siphoned from a just-filled tank near Bourton-on-the-Water. Thieves took ...
Vehicle left vandalised
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Car owner found his steering wheel on his bonnet after anattempted theft over the weekend. A would-be thief forced down the driver's window of a N-regPeugeot 206 at Whittington ...
Donor facts
Jan 02, 2008 ... One million people worldwide have had transplant surgery duringthe past 25 years. Nearly 70 per cent of people say they support organ donation, butonly 16 per cent have registered. A person can donate their heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver,corneas, ...
Ofsted: Glenfall is top of class
Jan 02, 2008 ... Glenfall Primary School is celebrating after being praised byOfsted. Following its November inspection, the school in Charlton Kingswas rated good overall and received the highest grade, excellent,for both attendance and the involvement of its governors. Nocategory fell below ...
Ken does his bit for shelter
Jan 02, 2008 ... Santa and his sleigh visited Cheltenham High Street to help petsin need. The man in red made the trip courtesy of fundraising stalwartDancing Ken Hanks, and pulled in a whopping pounds1,482 forCheltenham Animal Shelter. The money came courtesy of generous shoppers tossing ...
Woman hurt in car collision
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Woman was taken to hospital after a crash in Bishop's Cleeve. She was driving a Vauxhall Astra which was in collision with aVauxhall Movano van at traffic lights at the Newlands ...
Daylesford's wild at heart
Jan 02, 2008 ... It's all about wild food at Daylesford Organics this spring - andTV star Thomasina Miers is top of the bill. One half of the WildGourmets, chef Thomasina will be signing copies of her new book atthe Kingham shop on February 2 and talking about her TV adventures. Thomasina, who ...
Dentist wins legal battle
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Cheltenham dental practice has won a David and Goliath legalbattle against a global fashion giant. For the second time this year a trademark judge has ruled TheDental Practice in Queens Road can officially register its crocodilelogo. This was despite an appeal from Lacoste ...
Top pupils to be listed
Jan 02, 2008 ... Bright children who get top marks in tests are to be highlightedin league tables. Schools minister Andrew Adonis announced plans to publish theachievements of top pupils separately in league tables in thesummer. But county councillor Jackie Hall, cabinet member for ...
Farmers' phone line rings changes
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Charity that supports farmers in Gloucestershire has a newcontact number. Gloucestershire Farming Friends, which offers emotional andpractical support to people living in rural areas, can be called on0845 300 6886. The line is open 24 hours a day and is staffed by asmall group ...
Addict gets chance to stay clean
Jan 02, 2008 ... A 28-year old drug addict and burglar has been given a secondchance to prove his good intentions after he failed a drug testduring a stay in a bail hostel. Daniel Sly, of Court Road, Brockworth, was freed to go to theRyecroft Hostel in Gloucester for assessment. But two weeks ...
Job cuts are now official
Jan 02, 2008 ... Three-quarters of staff at stricken holiday firm Travel-scopehave been made redundant. One hundred and eighty-two of the 270 staff at the Brockworth-based firm were informed at the weekend that they no longer hadjobs. They received official confirmation by post on ...
Teenager gave false alibi to coral suspect
Jan 02, 2008 ... A 19-year-old gave a false alibi for a man accused of robbing abookmaker in Gloucester. Gemma Baldwin-Dee later decided to admit what she had done topolice - but has since been threatened by associates of the allegedrobber and has fled her home, Gloucester Crown Court was ...
Delight over home's new decor
Jan 02, 2008 ... The new re-vamped lounge at nursing home Dowty House is almostready. Everything apart from the upholstering of the chairs was done intime for Christmas. New curtains, carpets and chandeliers have been put in afterdesign student Trudy White from Gloucestershire College came up ...
Here's to a great 2008
Jan 02, 2008 ... Revellers partied until the early hours as Cheltenham welcomed in2008 with style. Venues were packed with party-goers and thousands of people hitthe town's pubs and clubs. At the Pittville Pump Room, smartly-dressed revellers arrived toa Champagne reception before tucking ...
Charlie to miss desert action
Jan 02, 2008 ... Action man Charlie Martell has been forced to quit the latestCommando Joe challenge team. The Cirencester marine's job - working in Iraq and Afghanistan -is taking up too much time, so he has pulled out of the latestfundraising effort. But his Commando Joe teammates will ...
We partied out of flood misery
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Flood-hit community waved goodbye to 12 months Gloucestershirewill never forget by hosting a night of New Year celebrations. Cypress Gardens was one of the worst-hit areas during the Julyfloods which devastated hundreds of homes and forced people to spendmonths in temporary ...
New gas plant would be safe
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - So villagers are over the moon that National Grid won'tbe allowed to build a gas plant in Corse (Echo, December 22). I take it that the people of Corse use gas? Can we take it thatthey won't be using any in future in order to uphold theirprinciples? To answer Richard ...
Extra refuse collections? I don't think so
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - As a committed recycler, I was delighted to read thatCotswold District Council had announced 'extra waste and recyclingcollections planned over the Yuletide period' (Echo, December 17). As your article suggested, I rang the district council for fulldetails and was dismayed ...
Cheap parking lures shoppers
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - I must respond to the article about traders in Tewkesburyenjoying a resurgent Christmas because the borough council spentpounds87,500 of its flood recovery grant on providing free parkingon the weekends of December ...
Borough has shown it does not care for us
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - At the Tewkesbury Borough Council meeting on December 18,council officers admitted that there was no Strategic Flood RiskAssessment for the borough and there should be. Now we are coming round to what the people of Tewkesbury havebeen saying for a long time - that the ...
Wolfie touched lives with smile
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - I respond to the article about Keith Wolfendale, a policeofficer living in Gloucester and stationed in Cheltenham who died ina tragic accident at home, aged just 46 (Echo, December 14). Keith was a very professional police officer who loved his job,his family and his ...
Atheists will be in denial at end
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - I refer to the letters from atheists supportingbookseller Tom Thurlow's selling of the "anti-God" novel The GoldenCompass (Echo, December 27). When the "last trumpet call" is made and God gathers all ...
Negativity holds back our airport
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - I trust that your correspondent (Letters, December 24)does not expect to be taken seriously. He castigates those who write anonymously in favour of theairport and then hides his own identity. He may be right that some correspondents stand to gain from theproposed ...
Broken bottle tore dog's paw
Jan 02, 2008 ... Madam - This is a warning for anyone walking their dogs on thegrass area opposite the Thistle Hotel. My friend has walked her two dogs there every day for manymonths. Just before Christmas her boyfriend took both dogs out beforework at 7.30am. It was dark so it ...
Murder bid - wife in court
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Pensioner has appeared in court accused of attempting to murderher husband over Christmas. Shirley Watts, 61, is alleged to have tried to drown herdependent husband Michael on December 28. Cheltenham Magistrates' Court heard Watts, of Croft Street,Leckhampton, was helping ...
Babies bring joy to start of 2008
Jan 02, 2008 ... Graham Bloxham saw in the New Year rushing his pregnant partnerJessica Fairhurst to Cheltenham General Hospital. While most people were out celebrating, the 44-year-old father-to-be was making his way from his Redmarley home after Jessica'swaters broke. Baby Oliver, who ...
First weekend of the year is hard to beat
Jan 02, 2008 ... This year has the potential to be immense for Gloucestershiresport. The very first weekend will be hard to beat. Table-topping Gloucester go to Bath on Friday seeking their firstwin at the Rec in two decades but this will, by no means, be theonly big game. Not to be ...
Phil's not got the power now
Jan 02, 2008 ... There would not be many world champions aged 47 and over, so Phil "The Power" Taylor's defeat in Sky's darts championships mightherald the end of an era. Of all the sports in which the television director has afascination on the reactions of the players' wives, darts is themost ...
So when is it inappropriate to play sport?
Jan 02, 2008 ... The tragedy of Phil O'Donnell's death is in danger of setting aprecedent in its impact on Scottish Premier League fixtures. That Motherwell feel unable to fulfil their fixtures at presentis quite understandable but the postponement of the Old Firm clashtonight on the basis that ...
Dead man identified by police
Jan 02, 2008 ... A Gloucestershire man who died following a street brawl has beennamed as Gerald Doherty. Mr Doherty, 45, of Welling Close, Dursley, was taken toGloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance at 8.40am on Sunday butdied shortly afterwards. It is thought he had been involved in a ...
Top Gear star Richard to park up nearer London
Jan 02, 2008 ... Top Gear star Richard Hammond is quitting Gloucestershire. The presenter, wife Mindy and their two daughters are uppingsticks from their six-bedroom rented manor house in Bromsberrow to apounds6 million mansion in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Mindy, 37, said they decided to ...
Crews beat car blazes
Jan 02, 2008 ... Firefighters from Cheltenham were called to two car blazes in theearly hours of New Year's Day. At ...
Thousands rally to show hunt support
Jan 02, 2008 ... Supporters and riders rallied to New Year's Day drag hunts acrossthe Cotswolds. At least 3,000 thronged Chipping Campden High Street for theNorth Cotswold Hunt outside the Lygon Arms. It was also full-scale tally-ho at Stow-on- the-Wold as theHeythrop took over The ...
I'll do everything to keep my shirt
Jan 02, 2008 ... Michael D'agostino is determined to keep his first-team shirt atCheltenham Town after extending his loan spell to a second month. The Canadian right winger made his full debut in the 1-0 defeatat Tranmere Rovers on Saturday following three previous substituteappearances. It ...
Sinnott swoops for united defender
Jan 02, 2008 ... Lee Sinnott has made his first signing as Port Vale boss bybringing in Adam Eckersley from Manchester United. A loan spell for the 22-year-old left-back was disrupted byinjury and suspension, but he impressed Sinnott enough in twoappearances to earn a permanent move on the opening ...
Cross on target as cidermill stun bear
Jan 02, 2008 ... Second Division side Cidermill reached the last eight of theKnockout Cup with a surprise win at Division One outfit Bear. Two first half goals from Cross put Cidermill in charge, andalthough a Ben Greenwood strike reduced the lead, Cidermill hung on. Two goals from Gwillam ...
Oh what a landmark for 500-up king
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cheltenham Cricket Club's David Sewell has helped trainer AlanKing reach 500 career wins. King notched the landmark when Sewell's horse Oh Crick carriedhis colours to victory in the Club 16-24 Annual Big Bash 'NationalHunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Robert Thornton's mount ...
Supersub Davis ends united's winning run
Jan 02, 2008 ... Evesham United 0 BISHOP'S CLEEVE 1 BISHOP'S CLEEVE brought Evesham United's 11-match unbeaten run toan end with a shock victory at St George's Lane. The Robins, who had not lost a league game since September 22,were beaten by a goal from substitute Lee Davis with 12 ...
Double setback as Robins face crunch clash
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cheltenham Town have been hit by a double injury blow ahead oftheir biggest game of the season so far against Port Vale tonight. Neither Shane Duff nor Damian Spencer have recovered fromAchilles and thigh problems respectively and both players have beenruled out of the League One ...
End in sight for black Jack
Jan 02, 2008 ... Black Jack KETCHUM is facing retirement after flopping again atCheltenham. Jonjo O'Neill's former stable star was pulled up by RichardJohnson in front of a record crowd for the New Year's Day meeting of22,000. O'Neill had been hoping the nine-year-old could bounce back ...
Derby is massively important - delve
Jan 02, 2008 ... Gareth Delve believes the old Gloucester and Bath rivalry will bestronger than ever when the clubs clash at the Recreation Ground onFriday night. For the first time in years, the West Country foes lead the wayin the Guinness Premiership, with Gloucester five points clear atthe ...
Great Scott! Griffin's goal wins it for Ciren
Jan 02, 2008 ... Cirencester seem to be Hemel Hempstead's bogey team but 20minutes into this game it did not seem like that was set tocontinue. Hemel had played slick, quick football with midfielder DeanCracknell bossing the game and sending his forwards roaring throughthe home ...
Beijing-bound bev is toast of city club
Jan 03, 2008 ... Gloucester Ac produced some extraordinary performances to be intop 50 UK rankings in 2007. The club will also have a representative at this year'sparalympics in discus star Beverley Jones. Their most prolific event last year was the hammer, coached byformer Commonwealth Games ...
Dave closes in on complete pilot set
Jan 03, 2008 ... Dave Lander of Severn AC was the surprise winner of the Pilot InnChristmas Four Mile road race. It was his first victory since the 2004 Pilot New Year's DayFive, and came in spite of a broken finger. Forsaking his usual waiting race tactics, Lander set a fiercepace and opened ...
Ciren's Marc a jolly good fellows
Jan 03, 2008 ... Cirencester Ac ended the year on a high note at the Oxford MailCross Country League meeting in Banbury. The senior men won their team event, led home by Marc Fellows insixth place. Not far behind in 13th came Mark Norris, Bill Leggate was 16thand good runs by Paul Barlow, ...