News from the Shire - Wednesday 14th May
Latest roundup of news away from Gloucester and Cheltenham
Dear readers - I start this week’s News from the Shire with a link back to my featured positive piece from yesterday - the Tewkesbury dance group for women to strut their stuff no matter their age.
Writing as many positive feature pieces for this newsletter is my aim and while I accept some of you don’t live in Tewkesbury, I do think this is exactly the type of positive piece local journalism should be doing more of.
As I’ve stressed before, there will be pieces I write that will have no relevance to your Gloucestershire community, but what I am encouraged by is a reader who got in touch recently to say no matter where they live they’re interested in anything informative, insightful and light-hearted about their county.
As always do get in touch if you have a story you wish to share. Do get in touch to tell me what topics you would like me to write about. I have plenty of ideas ready to go but I will always welcome your feedback and messages.
Below is this week’s Wednesday roundup from Tewkesbury, Stroud, the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.
Tewkesbury
A reminder that a free 1970s-themed outdoor party is taking place in Sun Street this Friday (May 16) at 6pm to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Roses Theatre. There will be live music, a fully stocked bar and food as the community celebrates five decades of the arts. Roses Theatre
The theatre’s outdoor party kicks off Tewkesbury’s Big Weekend which returns on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18. The town centre and riverside area of the town is the place to be with the event celebrating its tenth anniversary last year. The weather looks glorious for the weekend so this will once again be a positive occasion for the town. More information here.
Tewkesbury Borough Council has welcomed a new mayor for 2025/26. Councillor Kashan Pervaiz was invested as Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough at a ceremony held at Tithe Barn in Bishop’s Cleeve yesterday (May 13). Councillor George Porter was invested as Deputy Mayor for the year at the same ceremony and councillor Pervaiz also went on to recognise The Butterfly Garden and Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers as his two chosen charities for the year. Tewkesbury Borough Council
Stroud
Traders have hit out as a month-long road closure in Nailsworth has been described as a ‘nightmare.’ Nailsworth's George Street was being resurfaced for three nights last month when a gas leak during the works forced further road closures which are still in place. The road has now been closed for nearly a month with business owners hitting out after a dramatic loss of footfall with one prominent councillor calling the situation a 'nightmare' for residents and traders alike. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
Motorists are being urged to slow down as cattle return to grazing on Minchinhampton, Rodborough and Selsley Commons this week. Ash Loveridge, Stroud Times
Members of the charity Cotswold Canals Trust have spoken out after a series of break-ins at their sites since the beginning of the year. A recent incident saw theft of valuable equipment and fuel. The charity is volunteer run. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
Two friends have opened up their own dart shop at the Krate Village in Whitminster. Friends Dom Hoskins, 25 and Joe Makuch, 28, from Gloucester, initially opened their online darts business called 9 Dart Den, in January this year. However the pair quickly realised their customers were looking for somewhere to go and see the equipment for themselves. Kim Horton, Gloucestershire Live
A flash flood in Wotton-under-Edge on Sunday May 11 has exposed its decrepit state of drainage amid claims of 'ghost' repairs promised five years ago by the county's highways authority which never took place. Dr Kate Butler, a patent attorney and Wotton resident has aired her frustration after floodwater – which she had warned would return – swept into her property off Holywell Road. Simon Hacker, Punchline
An urgent plea has been issued to selfish drivers who are using parking spaces needed for vulnerable patients at a GP surgery. Staff at Rowcroft Medical Centre in Stroud are fed up with shoppers taking up spaces needed for patients - many of whom are vulnerable and frail. New signs have been installed as part of a clampdown on the problem, which was especially acute during the Easter holidays. James Felton, Stroud News & Journal
A new information board about the Battle of Nibley Green has been unveiled. The board, detailing the battle fought during the Wars of the Roses, now stands in North Nibley. The sponsorship of the board came from the Battlefields Trust and North Nibley Parish Council, along with a hefty grant from the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society. Matty Airey, Gloucestershire Gazette
A Frocester man's cancer diagnosis has brought a village together in a remarkable show of support. Pete Davis, affectionately known as 'Pistol,' was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. In response, he launched an extraordinary fundraising campaign. What began as a personal plan to walk a solitary one-mile lap around the Frocester cricket ground to raise money for Hope for Tomorrow and Cheltenham Oncology's SPACE appeal quickly grew into a community-wide movement. Matty Airey, Stroud News & Journal
Cotswolds
Families and animal lovers are in for a treat as the Moreton Show returns with a line-up packed with fun and excitement. Promising to be a day full of farming, food, and entertainment, the show will take place on Saturday, September 6. The one-day agricultural event, which started in 1949, will feature an array of attractions catering to people of all ages, providing an opportunity for the community and visitors to come together and celebrate rural life. Nathan Russell, Cotswold Journal
A Cirencester doctor is making a bid to break the world record for cycling the full length of Britain and back in May. Canadian track athlete turned endurance cyclist, Dr Sarah Ruggins, will embark on the 2,700km ride, which includes an elevation gain greater than two ascents of Mount Everest. Dr Ruggins has only been cycling for two years. Matty Airey, Wilts & Glos Standard
Forest of Dean
A reminder that Cinderford artsFEST is taking place this Saturday (May 17). It’s a day of celebration, with live performances, a parade and workshops on throughout the town. Canopy Creative Network
Police are not impressed after a group of youths scrawled graffiti on Redmarley Village Hall. It was a bank holiday shock for the community to see the permanent damage but Gloucestershire police are after information to track down those responsible. Phil Norris, Gloucestershire Live
Cinderford is in the top one percentile of Transport Related Social Exclusion (TRSE) risk areas in England, according to a report by Midlands Connect, a sub-national transport body. TRSE is when people are unable to access opportunities, key services, and community life, and face major obstacles through the wider impacts of having to travel. Tomos Evans, The Forester
Everyone in Coleford will have the chance to make £315 by helping Forest of Dean District Council to shape the future of their town thanks to a new climate citizen visioning project. 22 local people will be selected to develop a set of recommendations in response to the question: ‘How can we create a happy and fair future for Coleford while working together to respond to the challenges of climate change?’ Abigail Nicholson, Gloucestershire Live