Gloucestershire Echo, The back issues from February 2008:
Roll up for the Easter parade
Feb 01, 2008 ... A THREE-day street party featuring some of the towns finest bandsand acts is set to bring Cheltenham to life over Easter. The streets will come alive with the sound of music as part ofthe Big Easter Weekend, which is being funded by a pounds40,000grant from the South West Regional ...
Holgate adds to Cirencester buzz
Feb 01, 2008 ... Striker Ashan Holgate goes straight into Cirencester Town's squadfor their trip to Merthyr Tydfil tomorrow. The 21-year-old former Swindon Town man has joined the Centurionson loan until the end of the season after leaving Blue Square SouthEastleigh. Ciren manager Adi Viveash ...
Knight returns to action for Cleeve
Feb 01, 2008 ... Keith Knight will be included in the Bishop's Cleeve squad fortheir home match with league leaders Leamington tomorrow. The former Cheltenham Town man, who managed Cleeve's British GasBusiness League Division One rivals Cinderford Town earlier thisseason, has been training with the ...
Rutter to line up for saras
Feb 01, 2008 ... Tom Rutter is set to make his first Cheltenham Saracensappearance when Gerry Oldham's side go to Letcombe tomorrow. The former Bishop's Cleeve man has joined the Division One Westclub as they mount a push for promotion after six years outside theHellenic top flight. And ...
Panthers set for a cup showdown
Feb 01, 2008 ... The quarter-finals of the Junior and Minor Charity Cups takecentre stage this weekend. The Divisions Three and Four teams which contest the Junior Cupare evenly represented in the last eight. At least one side from Division Four will make it into the semi-finals as Churchdown ...
Tap in your views on water park
Feb 01, 2008 ... An Olympic size rowing course, dragon boat racing and a watertaxi up and down the Thames are just some of the latest ideas forthe Cotswold Water Park. The Park's joint committee is urging residents to get involvedwith the development of the site to help them create an ...
We're just snowed under with visitors
Feb 01, 2008 ... Visitors to Colesbourne Park are being treated to a stunningdisplay of snowdrops. The world-famous garden has more than 250 varieties and isrenowned as one of England's greatest gardens for enjoying thewinter bloomer. The park covers between 15 and 20 acres and is situated ...
Performance is link to past
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cirencester College theatre students are celebrating performingin their communities. As part of the BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, secondyear students researched, devised and performed a series ofperformances called 'Born and Bred'. The show was based on the ...
Thief takes pounds78
Feb 01, 2008 ... Raiders took cash from a telephone kiosk in Moreton-in-Marsh. BT discovered the cash ...
Tell the boss to be greener
Feb 01, 2008 ... An event to encourage local tourism businesses to 'Go Green' isbeing held at Cheltenham racecourse on Tuesday. The aim is to work with hotel and tourism businesses to ensurethey are acting responsibly, to lower their carbon footprint. Businesses will be given tips on how to ...
Satnav stolen
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Satnav system worth pounds150 was stolen after a thief smasheda car window with a ...
Woman died after op
Feb 01, 2008 ... An 82-year-old woman, suffering with deep vein thrombosis,collapsed and died 18 days after an operation to drain an abscess,an inquest was told. Annie Esther Cook, of Rodney Close, Longlevens, suffered a fatalheart attack in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The inquest was ...
Bikes stolen
Feb 01, 2008 ... Offenders who broke into a locked shed in Fairview Street,Cheltenham, stole two bikes valued at pounds300. The bikes ...
Chinese go for new year
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Chinese New Year will be celebrated by the University ofGloucestershire on Sunday with a festival of oriental traditions. The event, organised by the University's Chinese ...
Rowling so sad at end of wizardry
Feb 01, 2008 ... Jk Rowling says finishing the Harry Potter series of children'sbooks was worse than a divorce. Picking up a prize for outstanding achievement at the South BankShow Awards, the multi-millionaire author of the best-selling booksabout a boy wizard said: "It ...
College wins e-award
Feb 01, 2008 ... Gloucestershire College has clinched one of 11 e-Governmentnational awards for excellence in learning skills. The college is the only further education college to scoop aprize. The award recognises innovation through online delivery.Gloucestershire College submitted its ...
Wind of change is blowing in county
Feb 01, 2008 ... Controversial plans to build a pounds20,000 wind turbine in theCotswolds have been given the go-ahead, despite fears it might bea blot on the landscape. Robert Jackson wants to build a 6kW machine on a 9m tower on landnext to Nash Barn at Sevenhampton, near Cheltenham. The ...
Thug faces prison for pub fracas
Feb 01, 2008 ... Violent tearaway Alan Rackley faces jail after admitting startinga pub brawl during the FA Cup final. Rackley, 22, was watching the football in the Hare and Hounds publast May when the fight broke out. He leapt into the fracas and punched the landlord in the face ashe was ...
County crews praised for improvements
Feb 01, 2008 ... Low Rates of arson and accidental deaths from fire have wonGloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service plaudits from the AuditCommission. The Commission's performance assessment report, releasedyesterday, marked the service as England's fifth most improved. It awarded the service ...
Dad wired fingers to the mains
Feb 01, 2008 ... Hairdresser Nigel French electrocuted himself by wiring hisfingers up to the mains and setting a timer switch for the power toturn on, an inquest heard. Divorced Mr French, 51, had become depressed and delusional afterhis two children, whom he brought up single-handed, had left ...
Could you lend a hand?
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Disabled riding club is cancelling lessons because of a lack ofvolunteers. Cotswold Riding for the Disabled, based at Cheltenham Racecourse,relies on volunteers. It needs up to four helpers per rider to ensure safety. Centre manager Carol Derrett said: "We need more ...
Children who know their place
Feb 01, 2008 ... Want to know all about Cheltenham? Then ask the youngsters fromGloucester Road Primary School. Year Four and Five pupils have produced a book about the town andpresented it to Cheltenham Borough Council's tourism office. Teacher Dave Poad said: "The children have done a Rough ...
Budget cut will stifle kids' voice
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cheltenham's youth council may be forced to close if theborough's budget proposals get the go-ahead. Nick Coates, chair of Making A Difference (MAD), which is co-ordinated by Cheltenham Borough Council, has criticised the proposaland called for councillors to oppose it. As ...
Angry mum niki v home secretary
Feb 01, 2008 ... The mother of a teenager beaten with an iron bar by a gang ofyobs has taken her son's case to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. Niki McVicker met the Home Secretary live on GMTV and called formore money to be spent on punishing young thugs like those whoattacked her son. Alvin ...
Sign up for walk and aid charity
Feb 01, 2008 ... Marie Curie Cancer Care is calling for keen walkers inGloucestershire to sign up for one of its most popular challenges. The Snowdon Mountain challenge takes place in June and October. The walk will take participants along the Llanberis route. Snowdonia National Park ...
Air show discussed
Feb 01, 2008 ... The organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairfordare holding a stakeholders' forum to discuss all aspects of the airshow. It will give individuals from interest groups the chance to meetmembers of the Air Tattoo team, ask questions and offer their ...
Councils get flood recovery cash
Feb 01, 2008 ... Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds have received a cash boost fromWestminster to help with recovery after the floods. Tewkesbury Borough Council received pounds50,000, and CotswoldDistrict Council pounds40,000 to provide frontline support for thosestill in temporary accommodation after ...
Internet sex claim rubbish, jury told
Feb 01, 2008 ... Claims that Simon Hett tried to groom a teenager for sex on theinternet were absolute rubbish, a court was told. The 39-year-old former solicitor, of Fairview Street, Cheltenham,denies engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child,meeting a child following sexual grooming, ...
Save our post offices
Feb 01, 2008 ... Postmasters have reacted angrily to the news that six local postoffices could close. The Echo revealed yesterday that the post offices in Mitton,Twyning, Stanway, Woodmancote, Twigworth and Witcombe are threatenedwith closure. Residents are now being urged to join together ...
Car damaged
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Car window was smashed in Springbank Road, Cheltenham. The cost ...
Town high on list of TV dodgers
Feb 01, 2008 ... More television licence dodgers are being caught in Cheltenham New figures released this week reveal a rise in the number ofpeople watching TV without a licence in the town. It ranks sixthworst in the South West, while Gloucester is fourth worst. Rachael Micallef, spokesperson ...
Home plan criticised by society
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cheltenham Civic Society has described plans to build a house inThe Reddings as "misplaced". Agent Clive Petch Architects have submitted a proposal to build ahouse, garage and driveway at Springfield Close. But the Civic Society's planning forum's report reads: "Adetached ...
Robbery - man on trial
Feb 01, 2008 ... Romanian Vilson Lacatus was remanded in custody at GloucesterCrown Court to await trial on a robbery charge. The 36-year-old is accused of helping to kidnap an 18-year- ...
Pubs angry at heater ban vote
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Ban on patio heaters to tackle climate change is madness,Cheltenham landlords have claimed. Euro MPs were voting this week on a resolution calling on theEuropean Commission to abolish low energy-efficient goods. This will include outdoor patio heaters, which are used in ...
Milk thief - why stoop so low?
Feb 01, 2008 ... Madam - To the person who stole two bottles of milk from my dooron Saturday, I hope it made you sick. It's been reported ...
450 new homes may get go-ahead
Feb 01, 2008 ... People protesting against the Homelands Farm development havebeen told: don't hide your heads in the sand. Tewkesbury Borough Council planning officers told a meeting ofmore than 300 opposing the plan to build 450 homes on the site nearBishop's Cleeve to start thinking about how ...
Dentist story got me thinking
Feb 01, 2008 ... Madam - At last, someone has spoken out about Bath Street DentalPractice (Echo, January 29), something I've wanted to do but didn'tknow where to start. My family and I have also been patients for more than 30 yearsand not once have we had any cause for complaint, until ...
Big nightclub fits odeon bill
Feb 01, 2008 ... Madam - I hope the Odeon does become a nightclub and it will bebig enough. The fate of the Odeon site will be decided at a publicinquiry (Echo, January 31). The problem Cheltenham has is it has too many small (practicallyconverted houses) nightclubs. We don't get any real ...
Amy will thrive like our Alice
Feb 01, 2008 ... Madam - With reference to the story (Echo, January 30) about babyAmy Annfield being born prematurely, it certainly brings back lotsof memories. Our daughter Alice was born after 28 weeks, weighing, incomparison to Amy, a whopping 2lb ...
Blocking cycle path created a safety hazard
Feb 01, 2008 ... Madam - These days we are all only too aware of road safety,especially near schools at opening as well as closing time. Those of us saving the planet, who choose to cycle to work andwho almost exclusively use cycle paths for their journeys regularlyavoid the motor car and the odd ...
Tewkesbury bid for last-eight Vase spot
Feb 01, 2008 ... Tewkesbury will lock horns with the brother of Gloucester lockWill James when they head to Plymouth for an EDF Energy Junior Vaselast 16 appointment tomorrow. Centre Elliott James is set to dust off his boots to play for OldPlymothians and Mannamedians in the seventh round ...
Town facing big clash
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cheltenham could give their promotion hopes a major boost if theycan take their revenge on Swanage and Wareham at the Prince of WalesStadium tomorrow. Coach Liam Middleton's men lost 11-5 in Dorset in a dour match inNovember and they currently sit a place adrift of Swanage in ...
Festival battle for Jack
Feb 01, 2008 ... Jack The GIANT is facing a battle to be fit for the CheltenhamFestival. The exciting six-year-old, a leading fancy for the Ryanair Chase,has sustained a leg injury. The setback will force him to miss the totesport Gold Trophy atNewbury on Saturday week. Trainer Nicky ...
We can climb out of trouble - Russell
Feb 01, 2008 ... Alex Russell and Michael D'Agostino are looking forward tohelping Cheltenham Town escape relegation after extending their loanspells until the summer. Bristol City midfielder Russell and Blackpool winger D'Agostinowill both be at Whaddon Road for the rest of the season as ...
Shame to see Ollie moving on
Feb 01, 2008 ... Ollie Mcphail has been a good pal of mine for a while and I hopehe does really well in his new career. He has hung up his boots to take up a full-time role as regionaleducational officer with the British Horseracing Education andStandards Trust. It is a shame to see him give ...
Things go from bad to worse
Feb 01, 2008 ... Last season was the best of my career in terms of our finalleague position and personal form. But unfortunately this year is proving to be the exact oppositeso things have gone from one extreme to the other. I really enjoyed last year, but my foot injury has ruined thisseason ...
Bird's debt to Weston after quick thinking
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Piece of quick thinking from Cheltenham Town physiotherapistIan Weston has given David Bird the chance to maintain his everpresent record this season. Bird is the only outfield player to start all 32 of the Robins'matches this term along with goalkeeper Shane Higgs. But the ...
Gills are a much-changed side
Feb 01, 2008 ... Skipper Andrew Crofts and goalkeeper Simon Royce may be the onlysurvivors from Gillingham's opening day defeat at Cheltenham Townwhen the clubs meet again tomorrow. New boss Mark Stimson has almost totally rebuilt the Gills teamsince succeeding Ronnie Jepson at the helm. He ...
Victory quits
Feb 01, 2008 ... Former Cheltenham Town stalwart Jamie Victory has announced hisretirement from football at the age of ...
Ornaments taken away from graves
Feb 01, 2008 ... St Peter's Church at Leckhampton has outraged grieving familiesagain by removing ornaments from graves. The church recently caused controversy by ordering the Storeyfamily to remove a black gravestone erected in memory of father anddaughter Brian Storey and Janis Frostick, because ...
Terroristsput gchqunderthecosh
Feb 01, 2008 ... The report said: "The substantial growth in the number ofSecurity Service counter-terrorism operations in recent years hasmade it difficult for GCHQ, based at the doughnut in Benhall and inoffices in Oakley, to maintain high-quality support to an ever-growing number of ...
Shoppers will be up for the cup
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cheltenham Town may not be able to lift the FA Cup for at leastanother season, but the town's football fans will get closer tofootball's most famous club trophy tomorrow. Regent Arcade will have the Cup on display for the whole day - and is running a competition to win semi-final ...
Man faces kidnap case
Feb 01, 2008 ... James Vizor has appeared in court charged with kidnapping anotherman because he wanted his 'souped up' car. The 20-year-old is also charged with assault and aiding andabetting threats to kill Adam Eden and his father Clive on ...
Homes and schools hit by power cuts
Feb 01, 2008 ... Bad Weather struck Gloucestershire householders yesterday, ashigh winds left thousands without power Bishop's Cleeve was worst affected. Thousands of homes were cutoff for more than four hours and the village's school closed whenclassrooms lost light and heating. Gusts of up ...
Ambulances on the way
Feb 01, 2008 ... Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust is set to replace athird of its fleet at a cost of pounds2.3 million. The trust, which provides services in Gloucestershire, has agreedto buy 17 new ambulances, which could be in operation by July. Trust board members are also ...
Hope for tithe barn extension
Feb 01, 2008 ... Trustees of Bishop's Cleeve Village Hall hope revised proposalsfor a vital extension to the Tithe Barn will get the go-ahead. The group hopes to add a two-storey extension to the 15th centurygrade II listed building. The 172m extension will mean the trustees can install a lift ...
Endangered night owl's song
Feb 01, 2008 ... Gig goers have been given a 'use it or lose it' ultimatum by theowner of a county venue. Stuart Challoner runs the Night Owl Club, in Cheltenham HighStreet, and is urging music lovers to get behind the venue in a bidto keep it open. A former tour manager for the likes of ...
The Wurzels
Feb 01, 2008 ... 'OW bist? Tune up your combine harvester and dust off yourwellies - Somerset's finest The Wurzels are coming to town. With tickets selling like pints of Scrumpy, the four legends ofthe West Country will be airing some of the band's most popularsongs to a legion of hardcore fans - ...
Actors should have real pride
Feb 01, 2008 ... There is nothing amateur about Tewkesbury Amateur Dramaticsociety. Its performance of Pride and Prejudice was superb. A young cast portrayed Jane Austen's best-known novel withcompetency and class. Adding musical interludes between the scenes made the ...
Playing the blues
Feb 01, 2008 ... With members who have played with the likes of Howlin' Wolf, JohnLee Hooker and Sixties pop band Manfred Mann, The Blues Band is atalented outfit. The group got together in 1979 and almost 25 years and 17 albumslater is still enjoying success on the road. The band is made up ...
pounds6m to restore ancient church
Feb 01, 2008 ... Plans to restore Cirencester's historic parish church in apounds6 million project have been revealed. Churchwardens want to return the town centre St John the BaptistChurch to its former glory and give its renowned 15th century porch a make-over. Kevin Richardson, chairman of ...
Hopeful bands wait on a knife-edge
Feb 01, 2008 ... County bands are being offered the chance of a once-in-a-lifetime support slot with indie heroes The Young Knives. The band, darlings of the NME and indie lovers everywhere, areplaying at the Gloucester Guildhall on March 6 as part of theirnationwide 'Off the Beaten Track ...
Be first in the queue for this summer's Glastonbury festival
Feb 01, 2008 ... Today is the first day to register to be in with a chance oflanding tickets to the Glastonbury Festival. Anyone wishing to try and buy tickets on April 6 has to registerfirst at www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk - or by post - to be in witha chance of landing that golden ...
Blissful tunes from faithless DJ
Feb 01, 2008 ... Tomorrow, Cheltenham: DJ and producer Sister Bliss from Faithlessis swapping huge audiences at the O2 Festival and Birmingham NIA forSubtone in the Promenade tomorrow night. The musician, whose real name is Ayalah Bentovim, foundedFaithless in 1995 with Rollo, Jamie Catto and Maxi ...
An intimate portrait of jazz star
Feb 01, 2008 ... Audiences love a star. And a near full-house welcomed DaveLiebman, who has ranked as something special since he joined MilesDavis' 1970 jazz-funk band. Liebman has taken many directions, exploring the way-out pasturesof late John Coltrane music, consorting with a host of big ...