ASYLUM SEEKER PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT OF LOCAL WOMAN
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who sexually assaulted a woman in Cheltenham last year has been sentenced to 27 months.
Abdolrahman Banafsha, who was 19 at the time he committed the offences, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 5th November.
The court was told he specifically targeted a particularly vulnerable woman who had been walking home from a night out in Cheltenham in the early hours of 31st August 2024.
During the first day of his trial, the court heard how Banafsha walked past the victim, who was aged 18 at the time, and then he turned around and followed her at a distance.
Banafsha then got hold of the woman after she fell over in a side street and he picked her up off the floor.
They then walked by a nearby pub and the woman asked if she could gain entry to use their toilets, however she was told she was not allowed in as the pub was shut.
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AROUND THE COUNTY news from Gloucestershire
Gloucester man jailed after leaving his fingerprints at the scene of a burglary
A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed for more than six and a half years after leaving his fingerprints at the scene of a burglary in Gloucester.
Mark Hingley, aged 57 and of Worcester Street in Gloucester, was also recognised by a police officer after being captured on CCTV attempting to break into another property in the city.
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Where
You can pick up your copy of the Cheltenham Post in many shops and leisure places throughout the town.
We also have stands at your local supermarkets listed below; Arle Court Transport Hub
Asda Superstore, Hatherley Lane
Tesco Superstore, Collets Drive
Tesco, Church Road Bishops Cleeve
Morrisons, Caernarvon Road Up Hatherley
Sainsburys, Gallagher Retail Park
Sainsburys, Priors Road Oakley
Co-Op, Leckhampton Road
Co-Op, Bath Road, Leckhampton
Co-Op, Salisbury Avenue
East End Garage, Charlton Kings
Cheltenham General Hospital
We are also at selected other Co-Op stores as well as many 1000s delivered door-to-door on a rotation basis every two weeks.
Hingley forced entry to a property in the Elmbridge area on 28th August this year (2025) before stealing a number of items including a stereo, a record player, a number of watches and a Victoria sponge cake.
A forensic investigator from Gloucestershire Police attended the scene and found fingerprints on a kitchen bin lid, which were later matched to Hingley.
Later that day, Hingley attempted to break into another address in the same area.
The occupant of the property heard a noise at the front door and when he opened it, he witnessed a man walking down the driveway with a bike.
The victims provided CCTV footage to police which showed a man attempting to force the lock and try the front
door. When the door did not open, the man pulled his sleeve down over his hand and wiped the doorknob.
Officers identified Hingley from the footage. He was subsequently arrested and a quantity of fake £20 notes were found in his possession.
During a search of his room, officers seized clothing matching those Hingley was wearing in the CCTV footage.
During a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday 29th October, Hingley pleaded guilty to the burglary and attempted burglary and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
PC Metcalf from the Gloucester Neighbourhood Support Team said: “Hingley’s repeat offending has impacted many people and caused untold misery. I am pleased that he is back behind bars and cannot cause any more harm in our community.
“We understand the impact these offences have on victims and we hope this court outcome reassures people that we do take all reports of burglary seriously and shows that we are committed to bringing offenders to justice.”
Gloucester City Council to Review Unauthorised Camping Policy
GLOUCESTER City Council
cabinet members have given the go-ahead for a consultation on how the council should respond to unauthorised camping in the city.
The council is currently looking at how it deals with tents or makeshift shelters in public spaces and car parks.
A recent incident in Kings Walk car park, where a group was moved on after several complaints about anti-social behaviour, highlighted the need for a clear policy.
The proposed consultation for key partners, expected to begin later this month, will seek views on how the council should respond when a camp is set up.
Options under consideration include allowing them to remain
temporarily while welfare checks are carried out, if those involved engage with council and wider support services. Removal may still take place in certain circumstances - such as where there is a significant
impact on residents, businesses, or the community; where antisocial behaviour occurs; or where conditions are unsafe for occupants or the public. Any action to move people will be handled sensitively, with alternative accommodation and access to mental health, addiction, and other support services offered to those affected.
Tackling homelessness remains a key priority for the council, which provides a range of support services. Two dedicated officers have been recruited to work in the city centre with rough sleepers and people involved in anti-social behaviour, helping them access the help available. In addition, an outreach
service visits known rough sleeping sites across the city to make early contact and encourage engagement with support services.
Cllr Rebecca Trimnell, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “We want to support rough sleepers who are often struggling with very complex needs and need a lot of support to turn their lives around. If an unauthorised encampment appears in the city, our first priority will be to work with those living there to make sure they are safe and aware of the support available. But we will always aim to balance the needs of anyone forced to sleep rough with the needs of the wider community and the impact on local businesses.”
Victim changed her life and appearance following assault
Continued from front page
Banafsha then took the victim away by the arm and he escorted her back towards the address where he had been staying.
The court was told she had tried to walk away but his grip was tight, and she said she had a boyfriend and needed to go home.
Once inside the address, she used the bathroom and tried to plan her exit, however Banafsha pushed her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.
The victim screamed and kicked him off, and she was then captured on CCTV fleeing from the address while screaming.
Banafsha was arrested by police later that day and he has been in custody since then.
Following an investigation by Gloucestershire Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Department, Banafsha was charged with attempted rape and his trial started on 22 September this year.
During the first day of his trial, the CCTV was played to the court along with a video interview police had conducted with the victim.
He then entered guilty pleas the next day for two counts of sexual assault and this was accepted by the Crown, victim and the police.
One count of sexual assault related to Banafsha touching the woman's breasts under her clothing. The second count of sexual assault related to him touching the woman between her legs and over clothing.
In a statement written by the victim, which was read to the court, she said: “I never thought I'd be in a situation where I'd have to prepare myself for the worst possible scenario, having to think of how I can get out of this, will I make it out alive?
“The fear and anxiety running through my body. I couldn't breathe. Thankfully that fear gave me the strength to push you off my body, it gave me the courage to get out. I told myself no, I will not let this get worse.
“I had to change my whole life. The way I walked, I stopped going out, I only go out with my boyfriend, I don't drink unless it's in my own home. I used to go out all the time, I had a good social life with friends, but all I do now is stay in.
"I dyed my hair, started going to the gym, I got more tattoos. I completely changed myself because I refuse to look like the same girl you assaulted.
"I still don't understand why you chose to do this to me, I will never understand. To you I'm just another face, but to me, I will remember your face for the rest of my life."
The court heard how the probation service thought Banafsha was a high risk of harm to the public, particularly to females.
In mitigation, Banafsha's defence barrister said that he had changed his mind and pleaded guilty having watched the CCTV again. He said it was a pity that the victim did not alert the woman she spoke to at the pub when asking to use their toilets.
The court was told that Banafsha was an asylum seeker from Iran who had travelled to the UK by a small boat in March 2024 as he believed his life was at risk.
He had been living in Home Office accommodation outside of Gloucestershire, and had travelled to Cheltenham for the weekend to stay with a friend.
Sentencing Banafsha, His Honour Judge Julian Lambert said: “The only thing to be said in your favour in respect of the plea, is the complainant did not have to endure cross examination, but she had to endure a great deal on the night in question, and waiting for trial.
“This was an utterly terrifying ordeal and victim impact is most profound. People often simply can't put something like this behind them.
“Assessing culpability, I note an element of the predatory about you. I found that from the way in which you were stalking the streets and your persistence with your victim."
Judge Lambert sentenced Banafsha to 27 months in a young offender institution for both counts, to run concurrently. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and must notify police of his address during this time.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Helen Goode said: “Banafsha targeted the woman in this case and after subjecting her to a horrible ordeal, he then denied any wrong doing.
“This was until the evidence
Appeal to find wanted man Shane Walsh
POLICE in Cheltenham have issued an appeal to locate a wanted man from Cheltenham.
Officers need to find 33year-old Shane Walsh, who is wanted on recall to prison.
Walsh, of Brooklyn Gardens, is also alleged to have committed a number of other public order offences.
was presented in court, and he had no real choice but to change his plea after seeing footage again of her fleeing in fear from that address.
“The victim in this case spoke to pub staff, while Banafsha held her by the arm, and she asked to use their toilets.
“We know some pubs and clubs in the county run the 'Ask for Angela' scheme, where someone who is in need of help can ask for assistance from bar staff.
“But people who need help won't always know about this scheme, or be in a position to openly ask for it, and so we encourage those working in the night-time economy to please also look out for this type of perpetrator behaviour in order to help prevent crimes like this from being committed.
“The victim has been so brave throughout this entire process, and I thank her for working with us.
“In Gloucestershire, we've been running Project Vigilant, a campaign in the night time economy which sees plain clothed police officers patrolling the streets in order to identify this type of behaviour, which is predominantly carried out by men against women, in order to intercept before a crime has been committed.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any foreign national convicted of a criminal offence is immediately referred to the Home Office for deportation.
Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.”
To report a rape or other sexual offences call 999 in an emergency, or report by calling 101 or online here: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rapesexual-assault-other-sexual-offe nces/
First Light provides support for all victims and survivors of sexual violence, for more information visit: www.firstlight.org.uk/ Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre also provide support for all victims and survivors of sexual violence, for more information visit: www.glosrasac.org/ For more information on the Ask for Angela scheme, visit: www.askforangela.co.uk/
He is described as being white, 5ft 6in in height, of a medium build, and with short brown hair. It is believed that he is in the Cheltenham area.
Following a number of enquiries, officers have been unable to locate Walsh. They are now asking for information from the public to help find him.
Anyone who has seen Walsh or has any information on his whereabouts, is asked to call police on 101 and quote incident 433 of 14
November.
If he is present at the time of calling, do not approach him but dial 999. You can also provide information to police online by completing the
following form and quoting the same incident number: www.gloucestershire.polic e.uk/tua/tell-usabout/cor/tell-us-about-exi sting-case-report/
Police in Gloucestershire help disrupt criminals during national crackdown
POLICE have been supporting agencies across Gloucestershire to help disrupt criminals looking to exploit victims through cashintensive high street businesses.
Operation Machinize 2, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and conducted in cooperation with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), ran throughout October and involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Units, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House.
Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary joined other law enforcement officers during the month-long crackdown on high street crime.
Cash-intensive businesses
such as barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, Americanthemed sweet shops and car washes are often used by criminals to conceal the origins of illicit cash.
Crime gangs use them to enter cash into the financial system, mixing legitimate funds with criminal profits to hinder subsequent law enforcement investigations.
They are known to buy such businesses using the proceeds of crime, which provides them with a legitimate income and opportunities for money laundering.
Days of action took place across Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and Stroud alongside the partner agencies, and around 20 premises were visited.
Three people were arrested in Cheltenham, including two in connection with supply of a Class B substance, and support was given to partner agencies who also made arrests.
In Stroud, two people were arrested for immigration offences, while in the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds, four people were arrested in connection with immigration offences, while businesses were issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices meaning they could face hefty fines of up to
£60,000 per illegal worker if found liable. Cash was also seized by HMRC in Cheltenham.
Superintendent James Glansfield, from Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: “Organised crime gangs are using high street businesses as a cover for a range of criminal activity.
“Many have been used to hide drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, firearms, and the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes.
“Operation Machinize 2 has once again highlighted the need for all law enforcement agencies to work together and tackle these ongoing problems.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to clamp down on this criminal behaviour which can blight our communities.”
Rachael Herbert, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said:
“Thousands of officers have been deployed up and down our country, targeting criminal profits and the means of generating them. Hundreds of thousands of harmful and illegal products have been taken off our streets, and over £10m in cash frozen in bank accounts and criminal assets seized.
“Depriving criminals of their source of income has a real impact, limiting the amount of funds they can reinvest in further offending and deterring them from taking spaces on our high street that could be used by legitimate businesses.
“These excellent results demonstrate what can be achieved in partnership and show the determination of UK law enforcement to keep our communities safe."
TARGET: Barbershops are among many of the cash-intensive businesses targeted by police in Gloucestershire recently.
Conservative Party
MY car sticker says, “Don’t blame me, I voted Conservative”.
Ok, it’s a bit of fun but with the budget announcements, the town’s MP being taken to task over immigration, and Cheltenham’s Lib Dems wanting to split the county in two, I wonder how many people have “buyer’s remorse” over how they voted last time.
This article is written in advance of the budget, and I don’t possess the clairvoyant skills that many politicians claim to have, but we now know what Rachel has decided to do. No doubt the budget will take money from us, will raise taxation overall, and will be squandered on ill thought-out Bills in Parliament just to support Labour’s left wing. And we know where that will take us.
As Maggie Thatcher once said: “the trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
And how embarrassing was Max Wilkinson’s Parliamentary attack on the Home Secretary last week? Him missing the point and accusing her of using inflammatory language when it comes to immigration and asylum. It’s not often I will praise a Labour Home Secretary but at least Labour now seem to be willing to tackle the issue in earnest. They don’t have the answers yet, just look at their failed “one in one out” scheme, but last week’s statement from Shabana Mahmood is a
welcome start. However Max trying to score cheap political points and accusing her of “stoking division by using immoderate language” was a step too far. As Ms Mahmood explained, she is living in the world as it is today and has personal first-hand experience of how divisive asylum has become.
How long will Gloucestershire last then? Not long if the Lib Dems who run the Muni have anything to do with it. At their special council meeting they backed a scheme to create an East and West Gloucestershire. The Tories are fighting for Gloucestershire to remain as one county and avoid the huge costs involved, and all the duplication, that will come with such a split. Even the Lib Dems in Tewkesbury recognise the one county unitary is the best solution.
So, with a Labour government taxing us to the hilt, with a Lib Dem MP being shown up as a political lightweight, and our Lib Dem Borough Councillors out on a limb over devolution, anyone care for a car sticker?
In the dock!
The following cases have all been heard recently at Cheltenham Magistrates Court:
Liam Ellis, 40, of Woodville Road West, Cinderford, admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Cheltenham Magistrates on 15th May 2025, by failing to attend a drug and alcohol services appointment on 15th August 2025 and a probation appointment on 16th September 2025. He was fined £292.
Martyn Fitzsimmons, 38, of Hallmead Close, Springbank, Cheltenham, admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Cheltenham Magistrates on 26th June 2025, by failing to attend unpaid work appointments on 26th July and 20th September 2025. He was fined £200.
Tomas Zoruba, 45, of Sun Street, Cheltenham, was made subject to a warrant for arrest without bail for failing to attend unpaid work sessions on 8th and 15th September 2025, as ordered by the community requirement of a suspended sentence issued by Cheltenham Magistrates on 13th February 2025.
Ziaullah Shirzad, 37, of Albert Road, Cinderford, was made subject to a 4-month interim sexual risk order. He is prohibited from approaching or seeking to communicate with any lone female who is unknown to him in any public place unless she is acting in a professional capacity, the meeting has been prearranged, or such communication is unavoidable in the course of everyday life. He is also required to engage fully with and attend all appointments and comply with any medication requirements as directed by the Gloucestershire Recovery in Psychosis team.
Cheltenham DPF Ltd, of Stoke Road, Cheltenham, was made subject to a distress warrant for non-payment of a fine of £567.50 imposed by magistrates on 30th July 2025.
Caron Richard Denton, 69, of Cinders Crescent, Cinderford, was found guilty of keeping a 3 series BMW car on the public highway on 27th July 2024, when the vehicle licence had expired more than six weeks previously. He was fined £220, and ordered to £90 costs and vehicle excise back duty of £42.50.
Joshua Orpin, 28, of Devon Place, Devon Avenue, Cheltenham, was made subject to a enforcement warrant issued without bail for non-payment of a fine of £414 imposed by magistrates on 22nd January 2025.
Iliya Stoyanov, 41, of Beaumont Road, Springbank, Cheltenham, was made subject to an enforcement warrant issued without bail for non-payment of a fine of £1014 imposed by magistrates on 6th January 2025.
James Daniel Thomas, 28, of Grasmere Road, Cheltenham, was made subject to an enforcement warrant issued without bail for non-payment of a fine of £115 imposed by magistrates on 8th March 2019.
Victor Whitham, of Bishop’s Drive, Bishop’s Cleeve, was found guilty of operating various private hire vehicles without a licence between 18th October 2024 and 9th May 2025. He was fined £1000 and ordered to pay costs of £1706 and a Victim Services surcharge of £400.
Elizabeth Catherine AustinFoley, 43, of Juniper Court,
Cheltenham, admitted dishonestly failing between 1st December 2021 and 27th February 2024 to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of changes to the frequency and severity of her symptoms and how they affected her, such that it constituted a change of circumstances which she knew would affect her entitlement to Personal Independence Allowance. She was remanded on unconditional bail until 10th December 2025 for a presentence report to be prepared.
Callum Harris, 22, of Overton Road, Cheltenham, admitted breaching the terms of a community order made by Cheltenham Magistrates on 16th July 2025, by failing to attend a probation appointment on 6th August 2025 and an unpaid work induction appointment on 13th August 2025. He was dealt with for the original offences of assaulting a named woman at Ruby Jacks, Evesham, on 29th March 2024, and causing £600worth of wilful damage to another named woman’s Toyota Aygo car in Cheltenham on 24th May 2025. He was committed to prison for 12 weeks and ordered to pay a Victim Services surcharge of £154.
Aaron Blake, 36, of Owls End Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, was made subject to a summons for non-payment of a fine of £2460 imposed by magistrates on 2nd September 2019. Magistrates reduced the fine to £1230 due to a change in his circumstances, and he was given time to pay at a rate of £20 per month.
Steven Crofts, 48, of Alma Road, Cheltenham, admitted breaching the terms of a domestic violence protection
order issued by magistrates on 24th October 2025, by attending a prohibited address and being in the presence of a named person contrary to the requirements of that order. He was fined £50.
Martin John Bond, 38, of Cowper Road, Cheltenham, admitted breaching the terms of a community order made by Cheltenham Magistrates on 6th May 2025 by failing to attend two appointments in September of this year, and failing to stay in touch with the probation service since the end of July this year. The community order was revoked, and Bond was dealt with for the original offences, namely four separate charges of shoplifting. He had previously been convicted of stealing £62.40 worth of household goods from B&M Bargains in Gloucester on 4th February 2025; stealing two drinks and multiple packs of meat worth £40 from Co-op Foodstore in Gloucester on 23rd July 2024; and on 19th October 2024 he stole bottles of Lenor Beads from B&M Bargains in Gloucester, and a bottle of coke, cleaning products and 4 steaks to the value of £75.60 from the Coop, Gloucester. He was committed to prison for 16 weeks, due to “wilful and persistent failure to comply with the requirements of a community order, because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders and no willingness to engage or comply in community requirements, and because of the nature and seriousness of the offences.”
David Nicholas Hopkins, 43, of The Waterloo Cirencester Park, Cirencester, was granted further time to pay an outstanding fine of £1137 imposed by magistrates on 31st January 2025. The fine must be paid by 14th January 2026.
Rob Garnham - Cheltenham Chairman
Cheltenham businesses back BID for third term
CHELTENHAM’S Business Improvement District (BID) has secured the support of local traders for a further five-year term, following the results of the October ballot.
Announced on Friday 31 October, the vote saw a 47% turnout, with an overwhelming 82% of participating businesses backing the BID to continue its work from 1 April 2026 through to 2031.
Cheltenham Borough Council has welcomed the outcome, praising the strong endorsement from the business community. A BID is
a defined area where businesses work together to fund and deliver projects that enhance the trading environment. Supported through a levy paid in addition to business rates, BID-funded initiatives must go above and beyond services already provided by the local authority.
Since its launch in July 2016, Cheltenham BID has delivered a wide range of improvements and promotional activities. These include tourism and marketing campaigns with Marketing Cheltenham, major events
such as the Cheltenham Big Wheel, and the Cheltenham Gift Card scheme, designed to keep spending local. The BID also funds enhancements to the town’s Christmas lights, townscape improvements, the popular BID in Bloom initiative and a successful graffiti-tag removal programme.
The BID was previously renewed in 2021, with its current term due to end on 31 March 2026. The latest vote confirms that its work will continue for another five years.
Cllr Rowena Hay, Leader of
Cheltenham Borough Council and a council representative on the BID board, welcomed the news:
“I am excited for the future of the BID and would like to thank all those businesses who took the time to vote in support of Cheltenham BID. Considering the real pressures that our high streets are under - from changing shopping habits to the growth of online retail and the cost-of-living squeeze - it’s more important than ever that we work together to support local traders and keep our town centre vibrant.”
Council urges shoppers to use Arle Court Park and Ride this festive season
WITH the festive rush just around the corner, Gloucestershire County Council is encouraging residents and visitors to take advantage of the Arle Court Transport Hub’s convenient and affordable park and ride service.
As Cheltenham gears up for one of its busiest times of the year, parking in the town centre can quickly become challenging. Whether you’re hunting for Christmas gifts, meeting friends for a seasonal meal or enjoying one of the town’s many winter events, the park and ride offers a straightforward, stress-free
alternative.
Located just off the A40 with easy links to the M5, Arle Court boasts nearly 1,000 secure parking spaces. Drivers can leave their vehicles and hop onto the frequent 100 bus service, reaching the town centre in around 12 minutes. Parking is free when buying a bus ticket, with return fares on the 100 priced at £3.50 for adults and £1.75 for children. Alternatively, visitors can pay £5 to park and receive free return bus tickets for everyone in the car – making it a costeffective option for families and groups. To support late-night
shopping and festive events, the 100 service will run until 10pm from Monday to Saturday between Friday 28 November and Saturday 10 January 2026. A new permanent Sunday service will also be introduced.
The council highlights that the park and ride isn’t just convenient – it’s a greener way to travel. By keeping more cars out of the town centre, the service helps cut congestion and emissions, contributing to cleaner air and safer streets.
Arle Court Transport Hub is also home to the UK’s largest contactless-payment EV charging facility linked to
public transport. Its multistorey car park includes 100 long-stay 7kW charge points and four rapid chargers, offering a practical option for electric and hybrid vehicle owners while they spend time in Cheltenham.
Cllr Roger Whyborn, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Strategic Highways, said: “We want everyone to enjoy a magical Christmas in Cheltenham. By using Arle Court park and ride, you’re choosing a stress-free, sustainable and truly festive way to travel into town this season.”
Max Wilkinson MP
BY the time you read this, the budget will probably have been delivered.
As I write, we’re all still none-the-wiser. Only one thing is clear: the Chancellor is unlikely to give us a lot of positive news. A combination of years of failure by the previous government, the ongoing woes caused by Brexit, international uncertainty and some daft decisions in last year’s budget have conspired to give us all a headache.
That doesn’t mean that the government doesn’t have choices. It could use a tax on big bank profits to fund a cut in VAT rates for hospitality, for example.
It is good that Labour has finally admitted that Brexit has not been a success. But having recognised that and having told us they must raise taxes and cut spending, it beggars belief that the government is not able to join the dots.
A customs union style trade deal with the EU has been proposed by the Liberal Democrats. That would boost the economy by about £25bn each year, which would offset a lot of the financial pressure.
After years of chaos under the Conservative government, people were hoping for a more competent and pragmatic approach. Sadly, we haven’t seen much of that over the last year. Locally, I’ve prioritised making sure I speak up for local jobs, economic growth and the future of our town centre. As part of that work, I launched the Cheltenham MP and Business Network.
This means I’m in regular contact with local business owners and entrepreneurs so I can speak up for our area in Parliament. I did that last week in the House of Commons when I asked whether the government would include some measures to help local businesses. That’s important because businesses provide jobs.
The fact that the budget is late and there’s been so much speculation doesn’t help businesses to plan for creating those jobs. There are some good news stories though. The University of Gloucestershire has been working hard to align itself with our biggest local sector – cyber security and tech. Now, it’s been given a £2.5m grant to invest in an AI hub to boost training opportunities in health, policing, cyber security and AI.
I’ve spoken up repeatedly for our local cyber sector and I’ll continue to do so. Finally, I managed to catch the Speaker’s eye to raise a big local concern – traffic problems caused by the work at the Hambrook Bridge (AKA Spring Bridge) on the A40 in Charlton Kings. The previous County Council administration dragged its feet on repair work, leaving a real problem for the new leadership elected this summer.
I’ve asked the County Council to prioritise reopening one lane as soon as possible to reduce disruption and I hope raising the matter in Parliament moves things along.
SLG Brands celebrates 40 years of beauty innovation Green Party
WHEN Cheltenham Borough Council debated the options for local government reorganisation, I knew the decision before us would have long-lasting implications for how our communities are represented, how services are delivered and how power is distributed across Gloucestershire. As Greens, we approached this with the seriousness it warranted. We listened to residents, interrogated the evidence and weighed up the competing values of local representation, efficiency and fairness.
I want to be clear about why I and my Green colleagues voted for a single unitary authority.
First, I absolutely share the concerns many councillors raised about democratic representation in any new structure. Larger authorities risk feeling more distant. They require stronger mechanisms for locality governance, community voice and transparency, issues I will continue to champion. But when we looked closely at the proposals on the table, the east/west model simply did not provide the democratic improvements some suggested it would. It did not increase the number of councillors representing residents. It did not offer more accessible or accountable governance. What it did offer was significantly less financial resilience and less savings than a single unitary authority.
The inequality between the two proposed options, an east with larger urban centres and greater fiscal strength and a west that would have inherited higher need without the same economic base, was something I could not ignore. Splitting the county in this
I am sure many of you were both shocked, and yet not entirely surprised, by the recent controversy surrounding the BBC’s editing of footage from Donald Trump’s speech on January 6th. The edited
way risked embedding inequality into the very structure of our governance. A single unitary authority, for all its imperfections, avoids that imbalance and ensures that resources can be allocated across Gloucestershire according to need not postcode. We also listened to what residents told us. People want simplicity, fairness and decisions made as close to communities as possible. They want public money spent on services not on duplicating management structures. While no option was perfect, the evidence, including financial modelling, service impact assessments and national experience, showed that the single unitary authority offered the most coherent platform for achieving those aims. Ultimately we must also be honest, the final decision does not rest with this chamber.
Central government will choose the model and they will do so in 2026. Our role was to put forward what we believe is the fairest and most sustainable option for Gloucestershire.
For these reasons, grounded in evidence, equity and the feedback we heard from residents, we voted for the single unitary authority
WHAT began in a Gloucester garage in 1985 with a single latex makeup sponge has grown into one of the UK’s most dynamic and creatively reputed beauty companies.
Forty years on, SLG Brands is celebrating its transformation from a small family start-up into a global beauty brand owner and incubator, known for its design flair, trend insight, and trailblazing collaborations.
In its early years, SLG was a niche private-label supplier producing cosmetic applicators for a handful of UK beauty retailers. With a sharp eye for fashion and design, the company expanded into make-up brushes, false lashes, and other accessories, driving growth through creativity and innovation. Partnerships soon followed with major retailers including Boots, The Body Shop, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.
By the early 2000s, SLG had made its first big impact in own-brand beauty through a high-profile licensing deal with Cosmopolitan Magazine, launching the trend-setting Cosmopolitan Beauty range.
The success marked a turning point - proof of SLG’s ambition to create brands that could disrupt the market and resonate globally.
As beauty trends evolved, SLG stayed ahead of the curve. Its first original brand, girl2go, launched in
Boots and Superdrug in 2003, followed by a creative partnership with Sex & the City in 2008 - a moment that confirmed SLG as a go-to partner for iconic cultural names entering the beauty world.
A major milestone arrived in 2014, when SLG foresaw the rise of influencer beauty. Partnering with YouTube star Zoella, the company created a sell-out range that “broke the internet” and became a £20 million brand across more than 200 product lines. That same year, SLG introduced COLAB Dry Shampoo, developed with influencer Ruth Crilly. Today, COLAB is the world’s most followed dry shampoo brand and sold in more than 20,000 stores worldwide.
Momentum continued with the 2016 launch of
Johnny’s Chop Shop, a cult men’s grooming brand created with London barbering entrepreneur Steven Ross. Two years later came LMX Beauty, a vibrant, inclusive cosmetics line co-developed with global pop group Little Mix. SLG also deepened collaborations with beloved British names such as Laura Ashley, Radley and Osprey, continually redefining what beauty partnerships could achieve.
Now based in Cheltenham, SLG continues to expand its portfolio of purpose-driven, insight-led brands including Rhyme & Reason and Happy Hair People, while also partnering with global fashion innovators like Paul Smith and White Fox. Its award-winning products are sold in over 40,000 stores around the world - and
growing.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, founder and executive creative director Miles Dunkley said: “When I look back to those early days in our garage, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. Forty years on, creativity remains our driving force. What began as my parents’ spark of entrepreneurial spirit has become a global business that reaches millions. Our 40th year isn’t just a milestone - it’s a celebration of our people and imagination.”
Four decades later, SLG remains proudly independent, design-driven and culture-fuelled. What began with a sponge in Gloucestershire is now a global beauty force - and the next chapter is only just beginning.
extracts shown on programmes such as Newsnight and Panorama appeared, to many viewers, to combine sentences delivered at different points in the address, creating an impression that Trump’s remarks formed a continuous call to action. Whether intentional or not, this editing choice struck many as misleading, and it understandably fuelled accusations of unfairness.
Although the specific incident was surprising in its boldness, the broader issue
was not. For a long time, many people who hold what they see as majority or mainstream views have felt that the BBC approaches political and cultural topics from a very particular perspective, and uses its significant influence to promote that outlook. I voted Remain, but I still noticed the tone taken against the Brexit position. I am sceptical of what I see as climate alarmism, yet the BBC often appears to give almost exclusive space to one side of that debate. I am
not hostile to trans people, but I believe that safeguarding women’s spaces is an important and legitimate concern.
These positions are not fringe; they are widely held. I know this because I interact with a broad cross-section of the public - not just diversity in terms of background, but diversity of opinion. Yet within the BBC, as within many institutions, there seems to be an emphasis on demographic diversity without an equivalent commitment to diversity of thought. As a result, the organisation can appear politically homogeneous despite its national remit. Whether through structural
culture or unconscious bias, the BBC often seems more attuned to minority activist positions than to the concerns of the wider public.
When Tim Davie, the outgoing Director-General, described BBC staff as “the best of the country”, it struck many as a revealing phrasenot because staff are not talented, but because the corporation increasingly feels detached from the people it is meant to represent. Ed Davey’s response to the recent editing controversy, focusing on attacking Trump rather than addressing the BBC’s handling of the footage, only reinforced that perception. It is time for change. The
BBC should have enough confidence in its output to test it in the marketplace like any other broadcaster. If people value its services, they will choose to pay for them. In my view, the licence fee has become outdated and counterproductive; I cannot see how the BBC can fully regain public trust while it relies on compulsory funding. I want the BBC to survive - but because it earns its place, not because the public is obliged to support it regardless of its missteps. Only Reform is willing to say this openly. Only Reform is prepared to address the institutional failings that have let the British taxpayer down for too long.
Ashleigh Davies
Matt Podmore, Reform UK Cheltenham Chair
Reform UK
YMCA launches first campaign to support children in emergency accommodation this Christmas
CAMPAIGN: Rob Charsley, YMCA Head of Communities, Health & Wellbeing.
YMCA Cheltenham has launched its first ever ‘Under the Tree’ campaign, so every local child and family staying in its temporary and emergency accommodation wakes up to a present this Christmas.
Local residents and businesses are invited to take part in the new campaign by donating or buying a gift online, or by visiting any of their five Christmas tree locations.
Working in partnership with The Cheltenham Trust, the five locations span Cheltenham and Gloucester, including some of the Trust’s most iconic and historic venues - The Cheltenham Town Hall, Pittville Pump Room, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, and Leisure At Cheltenham - as well as the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre. The trees are all decorated with specially designed tags, each of which recommends a gift.
The ‘Under the Tree’ campaign comes as the number of children and families in the charity’s accommodation over Christmas is expected to double this year, currently at a record 91 children who might otherwise go without a gift. Alongside gifts for every child and adult, YMCA Cheltenham will also be providing each family with a food hamper.
Rob Charsley, YMCA Head of Communities, Health & Wellbeing said: “The aim is simple, we want every child and family we support through our temporary or emergency accommodation to wake up this Christmas with presents to
unwrap and a sense of hope for the future.
“Whether through physical gifts or financial contributions to the campaign, we aim to bring a little bit of extra joy and Christmas magic to those children and families in our care who may otherwise struggle to celebrate Christmas this year. Thanks to our partnership with The Cheltenham Trust, our five trees are available to visit from now through to Christmas, so local residents, businesses, YMCA members, community users and the faith community can all come together to help support these children and families this festive season. A time when the challenges of financial hardship, isolation and uncertainty are only exacerbated.”
The launch of the campaign also marks the start of the YMCA’s 170th anniversary. Since its inception in 1855, YMCA Cheltenham has been supporting those most in need in communities in Gloucestershire. Over the past year alone, with homelessness and poverty continuing to escalate, the charity has provided housing for a total of 843 people from the county, including 278 children and young people, and 149 families. Individuals and families who would otherwise face homelessness can find support across various sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester. The charity recently received permission for the development of Ermin Hall, another supported living facility in Gloucester.
As one of the oldest YMCAs
PICTURE: YMCA Cheltenham
in the world, YMCA Cheltenham has seen the impact over the last five years of a worrying 20% rise in family homelessness in Britain. Recent government figures show a record 172,420 children staying in temporary accommodation. Of these, 268 children were in Gloucestershire; 100 more than the previous year who were homeless and living in temporary accommodation.
Pressures on the social housing sector have also been exacerbated by the cost-ofliving crisis in the UK and the economic challenges facing families, from inflation to rising utility bills.
Rob added: “Despite these growing challenges, we’re determined to make a difference to the children and families in our care this Christmas.
“We’d love local people, businesses and community groups to all get involved in our new ‘Under the Tree’ campaign. Simply pick a tag from one of our five Christmas tree locations or from our ‘virtual’ tree, buy a gift and then drop it off at one of our designated points – the YMCA Cheltenham Sports Centre or St Michael’s House, Gloucester. We’ll even wrap it for you! Alternatively, you can make a financial donation via our Just Giving page.
“To find out more on the Christmas trees you can visit, how to donate directly to the campaign, or to volunteer to help pack and distribute the donated gifts, visit www.ymcacheltenham.com/un der-the-tree/. Thank you for any support you can give.”
Making a splash swimmers get set for the Big Dip
Cheltenham to honour loved ones
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
resident Nic Moorey, 50, a complementary therapist at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, is gearing up to take part in the Sue Ryder Big Dip Cheltenham on Saturday 7 December at Cheltenham Lido - all in memory of her mum, Sandra, who was cared for at the hospice in 2018.
This year marks Nic’s third Big Dip, and the event has now become a firm and much-loved fixture in her calendar.
“It started as a way to support my friend Kate, who was dipping in memory of her sister-in-law Deb,” Nic explained. “Then I realised I’d never done any fundraising for Sue Ryder in my mum’s name. Kate wasn’t able to take part last year, so we put a shout-out in our local mums’ group, and people with their own stories about why they wanted to get involved stepped forward.”
A Growing Local Tradition
The Big Dip Cheltenham has grown into a cherished community event, known for its friendly atmosphere and mixture of dippers, spectators and volunteers. Each year, participants take the icy plunge to honour loved ones cared for by Sue Ryder, raising vital funds and awareness for the charity’s end-of-life and bereavement
support.
For 2024, dippers also have the option to take on a 200m or 300m challenge swim.
“I do this to remember my mum and my friends’ loved ones,” Nic said. “Working at the hospice, I also think of all the people who’ve come through our doors and the families we support. It’s a special place, and the Big Dip Cheltenham is a fabulous event.”
Bringing People Together Nic hopes more people will join in - whether by
swimming, cheering from the sidelines or making a donation.
“For me, it’s about coming together in December, when many people may be feeling heavy-hearted about Christmas without their loved ones,” she said.
“Whether you’re spectating, dipping or donating, it feels good to be part of something a bit crazy that makes people smile.”
She added that her mum would have loved the spirit of the event - even if she didn’t quite understand the appeal of cold water.
“She would’ve thought I was mad! But I know she would have been poolside cheering the loudest, ready with the snacks and a warm blanket. She would be immensely proud.”
How to Get Involved
To find out more or sign up for the Big Dip Cheltenham, visit: sueryder.org/getinvolved/fundraise-for-us/ev ents/big-dip-cheltenham/
To support Nic’s fundraising, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/gl oucestergalsbigdip2025
A Just Deal for Renters
THE rights of people renting their homes in the private sector in England are about to be transformed by Labour’s Renters’ Rights Act, which received Royal Assent from King Charles on October 27th, 2025. Less than 18 months after being elected, the Labour government has fulfilled a manifesto promise and acted to support the thousands of tenants who have had to contend with the inherent unfairness in the balance in the landlord and tenant relationship, a step which the Tories had failed to take even though they had 14 years in power to do so.
A key part of the Act is the abolition of Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which has, up to now, allowed landlords to evict tenants without providing a reason.
Campaign groups such as Shelter and Generation Rent have long advocated for its removal, arguing that ‘no fault’ evictions created instability and anxiety for renters. This change will bring much-needed peace of mind to tenants, protecting them from the uncertainty and fear of arbitrary eviction.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, described the legislation as “the most significant shakeup of the rental market in almost 40 years.” Beadle emphasized the importance of ensuring that the new systems work for both tenants and responsible landlords, calling for balanced reforms that support good practice across the sector.
For years, too many people have faced insecure tenancies and substandard property conditions. The new law, due to be implemented from next May, introduces robust protections, including stricter
rules on deposits and mandatory maintenance standards for rental properties. The changes also mean that landlords can no longer say no to tenants asking to keep a pet in their rental property “without good reason.” The Act will allow tenants, for the first time, to challenge poor landlords and unfair rent increases without fear of losing their homes. It will also increase penalties for landlords who fail to meet their obligations.
With private renting now accounting for one in five households in Cheltenham (higher than the national average) these changes will provide much overdue safeguards and greater security for tenants in the private sector, including those in Cheltenham. Work is now underway to inform agents, landlords, and tenants about the new rules and the timetable for their rollout, with the intention of minimizing confusion and ensuring a smooth transition as the sector adapts to the provisions of the new Act. While the full impact of the Renters’ Rights Act will unfold over time, there can be no doubt that the actions of this Labour government represent a major step forward in protecting tenants and improving standards in the private rental sector, as we promised to do.
COLD PLUNGE: Nic Moorey (third from left) taking part in last year’s Big Dip Cheltenham.
Cosy Club Cheltenham launches Cosy Christmas Community Champion initiative
DO you know someone remarkable? Someone who goes above and beyond for their community, and deserves to be celebrated and spoiled at Cosy Club this Christmas?
As Cosy Club unwraps this year’s festive menufeaturing honest dishes that feel special without being fussy - Cosy Club Cheltenham is searching for a Cosy Club Christmas Community Champion. The winner will be treated to a one-of-a-kind Christmas feast for four, with dishes that capture the spirit of the season: think sticky Asian fried chicken with a soy and ginger glaze to start, our indulgent Christmas pie served with all the trimmings, and decadent desserts like a rich chocolate mousse or a classic Christmas pudding with warm brandy custard to finish.
Lucy Knowles, Managing Director of Cosy Club, said:
“We know our communities are full of unsung heroes who make life better for those around them. With our Christmas Community Champion initiative, we want to shine a light on those people and celebrate them the best way we know howwith fabulous food, warm surroundings and an extra splash of festive sparkle.
surprising a worthy winner with an extra special Christmas feast!”
“We’re looking forward to receiving the nominations, to finding out more about the great work going on in our neighbourhoods and to
To nominate a Cosy Club Christmas Community Champion simply head to Cheltenham Cosy Club's IG page and submit an entry of up to 200 words explaining why the nominee is so extraordinary, what they do for the community, and why they deserve a festive treat.
Shop and support the high street this Christmas
AS the festive season approaches and the town begins to glow with Christmas lights, residents of Cheltenham are once again turning their thoughts to gifts, celebrations, and the traditions that make this time of year so special.
Yet amid the convenience of online shopping and the pull of large retailers, there is a growing call within the community to look closer to home. This Christmas, local businesses across Cheltenham are inviting shoppers to rediscover the unique charm, quality, and personal touch that only independent shops can offer.
Shopping locally is not just a sentimental gesture; it is a powerful way to support the heartbeat of the town. Cheltenham’s independent shops, cafés, makers, and family-run businesses play a vital role in shaping the character of our high streetsfrom Montpellier and The Suffolks to the High Street and the Brewery Quarter. When residents choose to shop local, they are helping these businesses thrive, protecting jobs, and ensuring that Cheltenham remains a vibrant, distinctive place to live and visit.
One of the great joys of shopping locally is the experience itself. Independent retailers take pride in offering
By Nick Clarke editor@cheltenhampost.co.uk
something different: carefully selected gifts, handcrafted items, local produce, and products you simply won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s a piece of jewellery made by a Gloucestershire artisan, a book recommended by someone who truly knows their stock, or a festive hamper crafted from local delicacies, Cheltenham’s shops provide gifts with a story - and a personal connection. For many shoppers, this sense of individuality and authenticity is far more meaningful than a mass-produced alternative bought online.
There is also a human element to shopping local that cannot be replicated by clicking a button. Many of Cheltenham’s independent business owners live in the town themselves; they greet customers by name, offer tailored advice, and invest both time and passion into what they do. Their commitment helps make Christmas shopping feel less like a task and more like a community event. By choosing to buy from them, shoppers are supporting their creativity, hard work, and livelihood.
Local shopping also has wider benefits for
Cheltenham’s economy and environment. Money spent locally stays local - circulating through the community, supporting other small businesses, and contributing to the town’s development.
Shorter supply chains and reduced delivery miles mean a smaller carbon footprint, making the choice to shop local an environmentally mindful one.
This year, many businesses across Cheltenham are offering festive events, late-night openings, Christmas markets, and special promotions to make the experience even more enjoyable. From seasonal food offerings to craft fairs and independent gift markets, the town is bursting with opportunities to shop consciously while soaking up the festive atmosphere.
As Christmas draws nearer, choosing where to spend your money becomes an opportunity to shape the future of your community. By supporting Cheltenham’s local businesses, residents are helping to ensure that the town remains a thriving, diverse, and welcoming place for generations to come. This festive season, let’s celebrate what makes Cheltenham unique - by shopping local, supporting our neighbours, and keeping the spirit of community at the heart of Christmas.
Care home staff open cafe club to combat over-65’s loneliness
OLDER people experiencing loneliness and isolation are being welcomed into a Cheltenham care home to enjoy company and kindness at a new weekly café club.
The team at Bishop’s Cleeve Care Home on Ruby Avenue is determined to ensure local people aged 65 and over have a place to go each week where they can feel connected to friends and neighbours.
The Cleeve Community Café is about more than just sharing a cuppa, as each session will also feature activities designed to boost wellbeing.
Home Manager Tanya Laity said everyone who comes along is guaranteed a warm welcome and the chance to build meaningful friendships.
Tanya said: “The idea behind our Cleeve Community Café is simple - we want to open our doors and hearts to our neighbours.
“Loneliness can be a real challenge for many older people, and sometimes all it
takes is a friendly face or a cup of tea to make a difference.
“We hope this club becomes a space where lasting friendships are formed, where laughter is shared, and where our home feels like an extension of the wider community.”
In December 2024, Age UK shared its findings on loneliness among people aged 65 and over.
They revealed that 1 in 14 people in this age group are often lonely, with 270,000 people frequently going a week without speaking to a friend or family member.
Customer Relations Manager Philip McAllister said that the Advinia Healthcare home is determined to tackle this problem. He commented: “We believe care extends far beyond
Cheltenham accountants celebrate 146year with B Corporation official certification
RANDALL & PAYNE, one of Gloucestershire’s longestestablished accountancy and business advisory firms, has been officially certified as a B Corporation (B Corp), joining a global movement of companies committed to balancing profit with purpose.
The accreditation underscores the firm’s long-standing dedication to supporting its clients, employees and the wider community through responsible and sustainable business practices. Founded in 1879, Randall & Payne says its heritage aligns naturally with the principles at the heart of the B Corp movement - which measures a company’s impact across society, the environment and governance.
“For 146 years, we’ve been trusted advisers to local businesses,” said Tim Watkins, Managing Partner at Randall & Payne. “Becoming a B Corp reflects what’s always been at the heart of what we do: helping people and businesses thrive in a way that creates positive impact for our community and beyond.”
Part of a Growing Regional and National Movement
B Corp certification is awarded only to businesses that meet high standards of social and
environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Applicants are assessed across five key “impact areas”: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.
Randall & Payne now joins a network of 78 certified B Corps in Gloucestershire - one of the most active B Corp communities in the UK - and more than 3,500 nationwide. Of these, only 27 are accountancy firms and Randall & Payne is currently the only certified B Corp accountant in the county.
“Our clients rely on us to guide them through complex decisions,” said Partner Shaun Pegler. “Being a B Corp means we’re holding ourselves to the same high standards we encourage them to aspire to.”
Years of Sustainability and Culture Improvements Behind Certification
The firm’s B Corp status follows several years of continuous improvements across the five impact areas. Randall & Payne has held ISO 14001 - the international standard for environmental managementsince 2022 and has maintained a Zero to Landfill certificate through Printwaste for more than a decade.
The business tracks key
sustainability metrics, including energy use and waste reduction, and has made upgrades to its office, such as LED lighting, motion sensors and low-flush cisterns.
Employee wellbeing has also been a major focus, with enhanced benefits, dedicated social spaces and active involvement in charitable and awareness initiatives.
A New Chapter for a Historic Firm
Randall & Payne says its B Corp certification marks a natural evolution of its role in the local business community.
“For us, this isn’t the end of the journey - it’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” said Shaun. “We’re proud to show that accountancy and advisory work can be a force for good.”
About Randall & Payne
Randall & Payne is an awardwinning accountancy and business advisory firm based near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Established in 1879, it combines trusted financial expertise with a proactive, personal approach to helping clients achieve their ambitions. As a Certified B Corporation, the firm is part of a global community using business as a force for good.
our walls – it’s about being part of a community that looks out for one another.
“The idea of anyone feeling lonely in later life is truly heartbreaking, so here at Bishop’s Cleeve we wanted to do something practical and heartfelt to make a difference.
“The Cleeve Community Café is a simple idea with a big heart – a place where people can share a chat, a laugh, and a sense of belonging. We’d love to welcome our neighbours along to join us and become part of our extended family.”
To ensure that they are as inclusive as possible, the Cleeve Community Café will be free to attend, and those wishing to eat a warm meal with residents can do so for just £5.
The first Cleeve Community Café is on Wednesday, 26th November, and will run from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Philip added: “If you are looking for a friendly, kind and open-hearted group of people to
spend some happy times with, then please don’t hesitate to come along.”
Death knell for local policing
I RECOGNISE that the role of Police and Crime Commissioners has been controversial. Too often people misunderstand and think policing is being undermined by politics, or that money spent on Commissioners could be better spent on the front line. So, the decision to abolish Commissioners at the end of their term in 2028 will, no doubt, be celebrated by some. I will be replaced by an unelected official appointed by invisible councillors, with limited ability to hold your Constabulary to account. Be careful what you wish for. Commissioners are the voice of the people and ensure local community priorities are tackled by police. Any issue that local people find important are political issues, so I never have a problem describing myself as a politician. Passionate to deliver on my manifesto and what the residents of Gloucestershire want to keep them safe.
By Chris Nelson Police & Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire
During my time in office, my team have worked hard to ensure lots of new funding is directed towards the Constabulary, which would never have happened if Commissioners did not exist. In fact, we have raised more than enough money to cover the costs of my office. So, getting rid of us would not generate a single extra officer.
In fact, over the last four years, my team has helped get the force out of Special Measures in record time. The Constabulary has increased in size by over 200 officers, the budget has been balanced, despite a serious shortage of money from the Government to pay for all our personnel, anti-social behaviour has been cut by over 50%, there has been a focus on protecting victims and tackling male violence against women and
girls, and 999 and 101 answer times have improved significantly.
In the few years I have left in the role, I will put renewed effort into improving police productivity at the national and local level, as outcome rates and solved crime percentages leave much to be desired. A shortage of national funding has been compounded by a lack of investment in ethical leadership throughout policing.
I was asked on the radio what achievement I am most proud of. Without a shadow of a doubt, it has been my focus on local priorities, public service, helping the Constabulary climb out of the deep hole it was in when it was in Special Measures, so that in the not-too-distant future its performance could outshine its peers.
Santa Claus to visit The Centaur at the racecourse
FINAL preparations are underway at Marshall Land Rover, Cheltenham & Gloucester, in readiness for Santa Claus’s visit to The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse on December 1924.
Summoned to Cheltenham by GCHQ, after having detected a rogue signal that appears to be diminishing Christmas Spirit to dangerous levels, the big man himself has dispatched his elite elves from the FIA (Festive Intelligence Agency) to find out what (or who!) is causing the problem.
The popular local dealership has been recruited by the elves to transport the festive superstar and his special helpers in the days leading up to his arrival and are busy putting the finishing touches to his exclusive motorcade.
Jack Horwood, General Manager of Marshall Land Rover, Cheltenham & Gloucester said: “We’re very excited and honoured to have been asked to transport Santa and his crew.
“Our vehicles are the perfect fit for a guest of his magnitude and we’re thrilled to be
supplying the Festive Intelligence Agency with the high-status, luxury cars he requires.”
The elves are expected to be travelling in their motorcade through the streets of Cheltenham and surrounding areas during the first week of December, as they begin to gather the necessary provisions and equipment to facilitate his visit.
Details of the route they’ll be taking and to buy tickets to witness his arrival at The Centaur can be found at santathevisit.com
Museum shines with Silver at regional tourism awards
THE Corinium Museum in Cirencester is celebrating winning Silver in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the Bristol, Bath, Somerset, including Gloucestershire, Tourism Awards 2025.
The awards shine a spotlight on the very best in the region and celebrate excellence in accommodation, attractions, experiences, events, food and drink, visitor information, agefriendly businesses, sustainability, accessibility, customer service, dog-friendliness and more. The ceremony was held at the Apex City of Bath Hotel on Thursday November 20th.
Emma Stuart, Director of the Corinium Museum said: “These awards are a wonderful way to celebrate the unique heritage we
all care for and help to acknowledge museum development and success over the past year. Being recognised regionally makes us all feel like our hard work to ensure the museum is a high-quality visitor attraction has paid off.
“I feel honoured that the museum was nominated a finalist and to receive a Silver Award reinforces our core goals, to preserve and display local archaeology for the benefit of our visitors and continue to be a leading attraction in the South West.”
The Corinium Museum is managed by not-for-profit leisure trust Freedom Leisure in partnership with Cotswold District Council.
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture, and visitor experience said: “I am very proud of the Corinium Museum’s achievement in winning Silver at the Tourism Awards. This recognition highlights the museum’s vital role in offering an exceptional visitor experience.”
or 07788 745033
AWARD: Charlie Jones, Emma Stuart, and Phill BrantSimmons with the Silver Award.
Christmasf Experience the magic of in Regency Cheltenham f
WITH twinkling lights, artisan markets, an enchanting undercover ice rink and entertainment for visitors of all ages, The Festival Town gets an extra sparkle this festive season.
From late November through into the New Year, local residents and visitors to the Regency town of Cheltenham can enjoy an enticing mix of shopping, dining and entertainment.
Alongside traditional Christmas favourites like the annual pantomimes, Cheltenham Ice Rink in Imperial Gardens and Christmas markets, there’s a packed calendar of events to look forward to. Here are some of the highlights:
Festive events
fChristmas in Cheltenham officially began on 22 November with free festivities at The Brewery Quarter Christmas Launch Party and Pittville Pump Room Christmas Lights
Switch On. With live music, family entertainment, a visit from Father Christmas and even a flurry or two of snow, it was the ideal way to get the celebrations started.
The magical Cheltenham Ice Rink has returned to Imperial Gardens from 21 November–4 January with a new look and even more themed sessions. This wheelchair-accessible covered rink is the perfect place to make memories with
family and friends, whatever your age and ability –including non-skaters who can watch the action from the comfort of the café with a hot drink and delicious, sweet treats.
There are special sessions for Little Gliders (ages 3–5), Relaxed Glides for skaters with SEN, Student Nights and Grown-Up Glides for adults. And new for 2025 are themed music nights, Patch sessions where experienced skaters can show off their skills, and character sessions for little ones featuring their favourite superheroes and princesses.
Cheltenham is world famous for its horse racing, and there are exciting events to choose from this festive season. The Christmas Meeting on 12–13 December kicks things off with family fun on the Saturday, including a visit from Santa himself. And the New Year's Day Racing is the perfect way to blow away any cobwebs, with entertainment, food and drink alongside the thrilling race action.
Just outside Cheltenham, you can take an enchanted walk in search of Excalibur on the Spectacle of Light trail at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. The gardens and grounds of this historic castle are illuminated with thousands of gleaming lights, with 'The Court of King Arthur' as this year's theme. Or go back in time to the
Golden Age of rail travel with a ride on the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway. Their popular Santa Express family trips are selling fast, but you can also take a relaxing scenic day trip from Cheltenham to Broadway on board their Mince Pie Specials after Christmas.
Theatre and live entertainment
A trip to the panto is a real Christmas tradition, and this year the Everyman Theatre puts a hilarious spin on Robin Hood and His Merry Men, featuring local legend Tweedy the Clown. And there's more silliness and sparkle at the Playhouse Theatre, where Dick Whittington sets out from Gloucester to find fame and fortune in London. You can also enjoy a
classic Dickens Christmas or head out on an underwater adventure with The Little Mermaid, both at the Everyman. And the muchloved seasonal ballet The Nutcracker transports visitors from the Bacon Theatre to the mythical Land of Sweets.
One new family show not to miss for 2025 is Santa –The Visit at the Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse. This brand-new event, created by Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood, sees Santa leaving the snowy North Pole behind to head to Cheltenham on a special mission.
Or adults can party the night away at Deck the Hall, a festive set by legendary DJ Chris Moyles at Cheltenham Town Hall. Expect 90s and 00s anthems, Christmas classics and feel-good favourites.
Christmas markets and independent shopping Cheltenham’s historic Promenade sees the return of its Christmas markets this winter. The traditional Arts and Crafts Market from 11–23 December, welcomes visitors to shop for glassware, jewellery, pottery
and artworks created by local artisans while keeping warm with a steaming cup of mulled wine.
There's also The Suffolks Christmas Market on 30 November, taking place in this charming neighbourhood just outside the town centre. As well as stalls from
designers and makers there will be tasty street food, carol singing, kids' entertainment and a special guest appearance from Father Christmas.
You can also shop for unique gifts in Cheltenham's independent boutiques –Montpellier and The Suffolks are great places to browse, with plenty of delicious cafés and restaurants to refresh and refuel in. You'll find many High Street favourites in Cheltenham too, including John Lewis.
Travel and accessibility
A trip to Cheltenham makes an ideal festive day out. It's easily accessed from Bristol or Birmingham in less than an hour by train, or it’s just over two hours from London. There's ample free parking at Arle Court and Cheltenham
Racecourse Park and Rides too, with regular buses into the town centre. Or why not make a weekend of it with a festive weekend break in one of Cheltenham’s stylish hotels?
Key dates & events
For more inspiration for things to do, where to eat, drink and stay in Cheltenham this Christmas, visit www.visitcheltenham.com/chr istmas
f 21 November - 4 January: Indoor ice skating at Cheltenham Ice Rink
f 21 November - 30 December: Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle
f 22 November - 23 December: Santa Express with GWSR
f 28 November - 11 January: Robin Hood and His Merry Men panto at The Everyman Theatre
f 28 November - 3 January: The Little Mermaid at The Everyman Theatre
f 30 November: The Suffolks Christmas Market
f 4 December - 3 January: A Dickens Christmas at The Everyman Theatre
f 11-23 December: Christmas Arts & Crafts Market on the Promenade
f 12 December - 3 January: Dick Whittington panto at The Playhouse Theatre
f 12-13 December: The Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse
f 19-24 December: Santa - The Visit at The Centaur
f 19 December: Deck the Hall - Chris Moyles festive DJ set at Cheltenham Town Hall
f 21 December: The Nutcracker at the Bacon Theatre
f 1 January 2026: New Year's Day Racing at Cheltenham Racecourse
Passport to Christmas returns – your chance to Win £500 at The Brewery Quarter!
THE festive season is almost here, and The Brewery Quarter is ready to spread some extra Christmas cheer with the return of their hugely popular Passport to Christmas competition! Running from Saturday 22 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, this fun and festive promotion gives visitors the chance to win a £500 prize, simply by enjoying the best of what The Brewery Quarter has to offer. This year, it’s even easier to take part - there’s no minimum spend required at each venue. All you need to do is pick up your Passport to Christmas from any Brewery Quarter venue, collect a stamp each time you make a purchase, and once you’ve received stamps from three or more different venues, you’ll qualify for entry into the £500 prize draw. The more venues you visit, the more chances you have to win - three venues mean three entries, four venues mean four entries, and so on!
All of The Brewery Quarter’s fantastic venues are taking part, including restaurants and cafés such as The Alchemist, Mowgli Street Food, Five Guys, Cosy Club
and SOHO Coffee; entertainment favourites like Cineworld, Flight Club, Hollywood Bowl and Escape Hunt; and retail, fitness and leisure destinations such as Urban Outfitters, Tesco, Everlast Gym, F45 Training and Premier Inn. Demelsa Coleman, Marketing Manager at The Brewery Quarter, said: “Passport to Christmas has become a much-loved tradition here at The Brewery Quarter, and we’re thrilled to bring it back this year with even more ways to win. It’s such a fun and festive way for our visitors to explore everything we have to offerwhether that’s dining out,
enjoying a film, a bit of shopping or catching up with friends - and it’s always lovely to see how much excitement it brings.”
So whether you’re stopping by for dinner, picking up a few Christmas gifts, or spending time with friends and family, every visit could bring you closer to that £500 prize. Passports are available now from all participating venuesjust ask a member of staff to get started, and don’t forget to drop your completed passport into one of the post boxes before 4 January 2026. For full details, including terms and participating venues, visit thebreweryquarter.com
Recipes Steph Williams
/thisplateispretty
Whisky Cream Sauce
This decadent boozy sauce will elevate your weeknight meals. Perfect… and I mean perfect with a juicy Steak and some greens. There is just something so filling, satisfying and indulgent about a cream sauce. Altogether, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing, 10-minute dinner accompaniment, containing only 0.5g Carbs.
Ingredients Serves 2-3
• 30ml Whisky
• 200ml Double Cream
• 1 teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
• 50ml Chicken Stock
• Chives to garnish
Instructions
l Crush your Peppercorns if not already bought that way, using a pestle and mortar.
l Add to a shallow pan all the ingredients but the booze and bring to a boil for around 20 seconds.
l Reduce to a low heat and pour in the Whisky and continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
l Remove from the heat and let stand for 1 minute.
l Garnish with chopped Chives or your favourite herb.
Recipe notes
Serve with juicy meats, low carb veggies such as Kale, Spinach, Green Beans or Broccoli.
I am no whisky connoisseur, so won’t recommend one. Personal preference at the end of the day!
Use half a stock cube as you aren't making a huge batch. It’ll be too strong and salty otherwise.
Ginger Dipping Sauce
Ginger Sauce recipes are versatile and very popular in Asian cooking. A little sweet, a little sticky, a little salty, so deliciously satisfying and only 7g of net carbs per serving... and yet very quick and simple to make, taking less than 10 minutes. The spice from the ginger against the dark soy gives the flavour so much depth.
Ingredients Serves 4
• 1/2 medium white Onion
roughly chopped
• 3in segment of fresh Ginger
• Juice and Zest of 1 Lemon
• 100ml dark Soy Sauce
• 4 teaspoons Sweetener or another low carb substitute
• 50ml Rice Wine Vinegar
Instructions
l Zest, juice and roughly chop the ingredients as above
l Add all to a food processor and blitz for 15 seconds then use a jar or bowl to serve.
Recipe notes
If using Dark Soy, you will notice a lot more depth to
your flavours. Don't blend up too much, leave some chunks for texture.
Serve this dipping sauce with meats, add to stir fries, mixed skewers, or vegetables.
Garnish suggestions include sesame seeds and sliced spring onions.
December in the garden: Preparing for winter
DECEMBER is here, Christmas is around the corner and winter’s grip has arrived, so it’s time to winter-proof the garden.
Spring bulbs are already in, shallots and onions are establishing under their cloches, and the garlic is forming strong cloves.
There’s still time to add a little winter bedding if you need more colour - but be quick. Follow the three Ps: pansies, polyanthus and primroses, and you won’t go far wrong. Make sure to check your stored dahlia tubers regularly and keep an eye out for any signs of rot.
The soil has worked hard all summer and will need feeding. A favourite is wellrotted compost or a good garden manure, both full of nutrients and excellent for improving soil structure.
By Mark Hopkins
Don’t worry too much about digging it in - the worms and winter weather will take care of that naturally.
Milder autumns mean we’re getting more from our summer colour, but once plants have died back, be sure to remove supports and stakes. Fallen leaves still need clearing, especially in and around ponds and borders, though leaving a light scattering on the lawn can help feed the soil. Just don’t leave so many that they block out the light.
Remove trays from underneath pots and lift containers on pot feet to aid drainage. Insulate tender plants where possible to protect them from frost; garden fleece, hessian or even bubble wrap will do the job.
It’s your last chance to prune roses and longstemmed plants, and to trim hedges, bamboo and tall shrubs. These plants dislike strong winds, which can cause stress from excessive rocking.
Supporting garden wildlife through the colder months is important. Birds, insects and small mammals all need extra help at this time of year, so keep feeders topped up with fresh food and water. Creating log piles or leaf shelters will also attract regular visitors and support a variety of animal life.
December is also a good time to take a final look around your garden. Inspect fences, walls and garden structures and secure anything that needs attention. Make sure young trees are staked before winter storms arrive. Give your garden tools a thorough clean and apply a little oil to prevent rust.
December may be a quiet month in the garden, but there’s still more to do than you might think.
Money talks Fanny Snaith
Christmas is coming
Friday is behind us, Advent calendars are out, and the supermarkets are already trying to convince us we need twelve types of stuffing and a turkey big enough to feed Wales.
Every year, around this time, money wobbles quietly begin. Some people start shopping early “to be organised.” Others wait until Christmas Eve “to avoid temptation,” only to panic-buy later like contestants on Supermarket Sweep. And, if we’re really honest, most households aren’t struggling because of life-or-death needs. It’s the wants. The extras. The “it’s Christmas… go on then” spending that spirals beautifully out of control. You know the ones - the scented candle no one asked for but is now £35 because it’s “Nordic pine.” The gifts for people you barely see but feel you should buy for. The fancy food that nobody eats but “looks nice on the table.”
We don’t like to admit this, so let’s tell the truth: most of us have enough for our needs. It’s our wants that break us. And at Christmas, our wants often come dressed up as obligations, guilt, nostalgia, compensation, loneliness, or the hope that more “stuff” will create more warmth. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
Where Your Wants Are Really Coming From
A want isn’t automatically bad. There’s nothing wrong with buying something special because it genuinely brings joy. But most people never stop to ask themselves where their wants come from.
Do you want it because it delights you?
Or because you’re trying to fill a gap?
These are the silent drivers of festive overspending - and they’re rarely spoken about. But the truth is, emotional spending is as common as mince pies. In fact, many of the clients I work with realise, quite quickly, that their problem isn’t money at allit’s how they use money to regulate emotion, comfort themselves, avoid conflict, prove something, or numb something (as explored in Money Talks: Who’s Driving Your Bank Account?).
The problem is that the “comfort” wears off, but the Direct Debit doesn’t. December feels magical. January feels like regret with a side of panic.
A Dose of Reality from India
I’ve just come back from Indiawhere I completed a charity trek for the amazing organisation Young Gloucestershire. What an
experience. I travelled through Delhi and Dharamshala, and I saw a lot… including the inside of a hospital after a chest infection decided to knock me sideways. The doctors were extraordinary - kind, calm, and incredibly helpful - and it reminded me yet again how much we take for granted in our comfortable little corner of the world.
And despite the poverty I witnessed, on a scale most of us will never experience first-hand, what struck me wasn’t despair. It was joy. Warmth. Humour. Connection. People living in incredibly tough conditionspatchy electricity, unreliable water, small homes shared by multiple generations - and yet showing a level of community and spirit that is hard to put into words.
Families walking arm-in-arm. Children playing in the street. People smiling - genuinely smiling - with so little stuff and so much life.
It shook something in me. We live in a world where having three streaming subscriptions, two food delivery apps and a cupboard full of “just in case” presents still doesn’t feel like enough.
And yet, in places where comfort is not guaranteed, people still find ways to laugh, connect and live fully. It was a huge reminder of just how fortunate we are - and how rarely we stop to notice. And they are not sitting there thinking their life is incomplete because they don’t have a £35 candle.
I don’t say this in a judgemental “be grateful!” way. I say it as a wake-up call. We are drowning in abundance. Running water. Heating. Electric lights. A supermarket down the road stacked with options. A home that locks. These are luxuries for a staggering number of human beings on the planet.
But our brains have normalised it so thoroughly that we barely notice.
We’ve forgotten that enough is a feeling, not a number -
something Lynne Twist writes beautifully about in her book
The Soul of Money, where she describes sufficiency as that balanced space between too little and too much.
Most of us are not suffering from scarcity. We are suffering from overwhelm. Too many choices. Too much comparison. Too much pressure to perform Christmas instead of experience it.
The Seductive “Flick-It Moment”
This is the moment where your brain goes offline for a second, all reasonable thought leaves the building, and your inner Fool sprints forward waving your debit card like a sparkler.
The Flick-It Moment. It’s that split-second impulse“Oh go on then…” - followed by a purchase that makes absolutely no sense 24 hours later.
The Flick-It Moment feels good for about nine seconds.
January lasts thirty-one days. And here’s the science bit: these moments aren’t financial decisions - they’re emotional ones. According to neuroanatomist Dr Jill Bolte Taylor, emotional reactions only last 90 seconds unless we feed them. If you pause, breathe and wait out that 90-second storm, you’d be shocked at how many Flick-It purchases never happen. Imagine the money you’d keepand the peace you’d protect - if you made the 90-second pause your December superpower.
A Radical Idea: What If You Did Christmas Consciously This Year? Not meanly. Not tightly. Not miserably. But consciously. Before you buy anything, ask:
1. Is this a need or a want?
(And don’t kid yourself, you know the difference.)
2. If it’s a want, what’s driving it?
Joy? Obligation? Panic? Guilt? Loneliness?
3. Does this purchase move me toward sufficiency or away from it? Does it add meaning? Or clutter?
4. Will January-Me thank me for this?
If the answer is no - stop.
5. Is there a simpler, more heartfelt alternative?
Time, presence, handwritten letters, a phone call, shared food, fun, homemade plans. These things cost less and mean more. Here’s to a Christmas full of warmth, meaning, and fewer Flick-It Moments - and to a January you can walk into with your head high.
Snaith
What can a Living Trust do for you?
IF you want to protect your assets for your loved ones, you’re not alone.
Many people hope to provide for their children and ensure their wishes are respected. You may already have a Will to pass on your estate, but a Will can only distribute what’s left after your lifetime needs have been met.
A Will can only dispose of the assets that you own at the date of your death, and if the value of these is eroded during your lifetime, there will be little if anything, left for your beneficiaries to inherit.
A Lifetime Living Trust can help you protect your assets while you’re alive and give you reassurance that your estate will pass securely and intact to your spouse, children, or other chosen beneficiaries after your death. Unlike a simple Will, a Living Trust enables you to plan for a range of scenarios that might affect your assets
and your family’s future. This helps ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
Real-life example
Consider Jane, a widow with two adult children. By placing her home and savings into a Living Trust, she ensured they would avoid lengthy probate delays and that her wishes would be carried out smoothly after her passing. Even when Jane suffered a period of ill health, her appointed Trustees were able to manage her finances for her benefit, giving her and her family peace of mind.
How a Living Trust Works in Practice
Once you create a Trust, you can use it to ‘ring-fence’ your assets. Many people protect their home and savings in this way, while keeping access to funds for everyday expenses. You can even have income from savings in the
Trust paid directly into your account to supplement your regular income.
Common misconceptions
There’s a common belief that only the very wealthy need a Living Trust, but anyone who owns property or has savings can benefit. Another misconception is that you lose control of your assets; however, as the Principal Beneficiary, you retain significant control throughout your lifetime, provided you have mental capacity. You can add or remove assets from the Trust during your lifetime, depending on its terms. If you have a large expense - like buying a new car or paying for home repairs - you can transfer funds out of the Trust if necessary.
As the 'Principal Beneficiary' of your Trust, you keep control of your assets while you are alive and have mental capacity. You’re
free to move home or release equity from the Trust, if it fits the Trust’s terms.
You have the right to live in your property for life as the Principal Beneficiary. Trustees - often your familycannot remove you from your home if you have mental capacity. You can also ask your Trustees to sell your property and buy another, if you cover any extra costs.
A Living Trust can work whether you’re married or single. It can also be set up for blended families, helping to ensure that children from previous relationships are provided for according to your wishes.
If you lose mental capacity
If you lose mental capacity, you won’t be able to manage your own affairs. In that case, your Trustees manage any assets in the Trust for your benefit, always acting in your best interests. Anything held outside the Trust can be
managed by someone you choose through a Lasting Power of Attorney or could otherwise be handled by the courts. To make sure your wishes are carried out, it’s wise to seek legal advice.
After your death
After your death, your Trust continues to protect assets for your chosen beneficiaries. The Trust can hold assets or distribute them to those you’ve named, depending on its terms. In the UK, some Trusts can protect family wealth for up to 125 years. This long-term protection can be invaluable for future generations. Professional advice can help you set up the right arrangements for your family.
Expert view “A Living Trust can be a powerful tool for families who want to safeguard their property and savings for the next generation. With the right advice, it’s possible to avoid pitfalls and make sure your wishes are respected.”
Take the next step
If you want to explore how a Living Trust could work for you and your family, consider speaking with a qualified estate planning solicitor. Professional advice can help you understand your options and avoid common pitfalls. Planning ahead today can offer you and your loved ones peace of mind for the future.
For more information, consult a legal professional on 0333 335 5875
Breast care charity school disco at the old Double Barrel, organised by the Lounge hair salon 2005.
Top left to right: Manager, Ben Hill, Dougie, John Davies, Clive ‘the cat’ Gardner, Neil Vincent, unknown, Paul Ryland, unknown. Bottom left to right: Unknown, Danny Diamond, Mike Sherlock, Martin Oakey, Roger Clemente, unknown.
Joe & Pat Dicks from Hesters Way early 1970s.
The National Hunt B, Benhall - winners of “Whitbread” Quiz League, 1984/85.
Picture shows 'B' team with captain Mrs Sandra Higgs receiving Winners’ Certificate.
Last chance to book!
THE Cheltenham Post and Pulhams & Sons Coaches have teamed up to give our loyal readers a fabulous day out to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
Tuesday 9th December
Step into a winter wonderland at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, the largest authentic German market outside of Germany and Austria! This festive favourite transforms Birmingham’s city centre into a magical Christmas haven, complete with traditional wooden chalets, twinkling lights, and the sweet sounds of festive music.
Wander through Victoria Square and New Street, where you'll find unique handcrafted gifts, festive decorations, and delicious German treats. Indulge in sizzling bratwurst, crispy pretzels, and roasted almonds, all perfectly paired with a warm mug of glühwein or rich hot chocolate.
With live entertainment, a beautifully lit Christmas tree, and a joyful atmosphere, the market is the perfect place to celebrate the festive season with family and friends. Whether you're searching for the perfect gift or simply embracing the holiday spirit, Birmingham’s German Christmas Market promises an unforgettable experience filled with warmth, tradition, and Christmas cheer!
Escorted by John Batchlor from Cotswolds Travel www.cotswoldstravel.co.uk
Quiz with prizes of meals for two and other fantastic prizes.
Deadline for booking and payment: Birmingham: 9th December 2025
Information
Pick up points in Cheltenham, Departing 9am and returning from destination at 5pm.
Cos t and payment
Price is £30 per person.
Payment either by bank transfer to All4one Media Ltd
Acc no: 78327142
Sort code: 60-83-71
Or cheques payable to; All4One Media Ltd.
Send to 121 Salisbury Avenue, Warden Hill, Cheltenham. GL51 3BZ. JUST £30 PER PERSON
Book now for just £30 per person. Call Mark on 07983179225 or email mark@cheltenhampost.co.uk
Animal Shelter
‘Light Up Their Lives’ Christmas Appeal
By Erica Landon
AS Christmas approaches, many of us look forward to cosy nights, sparkling lights and time spent with loved ones.
We may be able to spend more time with our beloved pets, taking our dogs for long walks, curling up on the sofa with our cat to watch a Christmas film, or simply taking delight in giving our pets some Christmas treats.
We know how the wag of a tail, a gentle purr, or a playful nudge warms our hearts and lights up our lives. But for homeless animals, the festive period can be a cold and uncertain time.
Cheltenham Animal Shelter is calling on the local community to help make a difference through its ‘Light Up Their Lives Christmas Appeal’, a campaign dedicated to ensuring that every animal who comes through the Shelter’s doors receives the warmth, care and compassion they deserve - and the chance to find a loving new home.
Two of the Shelter’s recent
arrivals, Barbie and Star, show just how powerful this support can be.
Barbie, a young lurcher, arrived at Cheltenham Animal Shelter timid, thin, and overwhelmed by the world around her. Found as a stray after months of fending for herself, she barely lifted her head when she first
arrived.
She was frightened of sudden movements and didn’t even know how to play. What she needed most was patience and kindness.
Slowly, through gentle walks, encouraging words, and scent-based enrichment games, Barbie began to trust again. She eventually found joy in toys, especially a stuffed dog she’s become inseparable from. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, Barbie grew in confidence during her time with us and has now been adopted. This
Christmas will be her first in a loving home, where she’s sure to bring joy to her new family.
Another animal that we were able to help is Star, a tiny kitten weighing just 1.5 kilograms, when he arrived at the Shelter after surviving a traumatic dog attack. His right front leg was shattered, swollen and terribly painful. X-rays revealed scattered bone fragments and a severe break. He was rushed into specialist surgery, where a locking compression plate and screws were used to repair his fragile limb.
But Star’s recovery didn’t end in the operating theatre.
He required weeks of roundthe-clock care, pain relief, antibiotics, and gentle physiotherapy. A dedicated vet nurse fostered him during this time, helping him regain strength in a safe, loving environment.
A bond soon formed, and Star has now been permanently adopted into his foster mum’s home. His surgery and care cost more than £1,200, made possible by supporters of the Shelter.
If you can, please support our Light Up Their Lives Christmas Appeal you can do by visiting our website www.gawa.org.uk/appeal or scan the QR code below.
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TEST YOUR BRAINPOWER Puzzles
1. Vaduz is the capital of which European country?
2. Which ingredient gives Welsh laver bread its
3. The English Lionesses football team beat which country in the 2025 Euros final to
4. In Victorian England, which mineral was used to make mourning jewellery?
5. Christopher Luxon is the prime minister of which Southern Hemisphere country?
6. What name is given to the hundreds of life-size clay soldiers found buried with China’s first Qin emperor?
7. Which musical features the character Macavity – who wasn’t there?
8. Who is the famous uncle of actress Rita Simons who played Roxy in EastEnders?
9. The pretty social-climber Isabella Thorpe features in which Jane Austen novel?
10. Which is the nearest mainland country to the island of Cyprus?
Here are two miniature five-square crosswords using the same grid –but the letters have been mixed up. You have to work out which letters belong to which crossword.
Place the four signs (add, subtract, multiply, divide) one in each circle so that the total of each across and down line is the same. Perform the first calculation in each line first and ignore the mathematical law which says you should always perform division and multiplication before addition and subtraction.
1. Old cart made me blurt out (7)
8. In theory it has been written down (2,5)
9. Yearn for a turn well in the past (4,3)
10. Stranger than this, it’s not true (7)
11. Two doctors like a port (7)
12. Bird cracked bean on poisonous plant (7)
14. Surely bound to become unstuck (2,5)
18. Coco ran wild, the beast (7)
20. Thank graduate’s firm for producing spicy sauce (7)
21. Rich spa not working (4,3)
22. Cora leaves bewildered auctioneers forming a unit (2,5)
23. Let nine out to be merciful (7)
QUICK CROSSWORD
1. It’s unbelievable, I want to hear a different one (4,2,7)
2. They’re the least one can expect (6)
3. Gloria takes part of the lasso (5)
4. Half confused about ducks’ sponge (6)
5. Make notes about Penny and Bill setting at intervals (7)
6. I’m a top destroyer of most favourable points (6)
7. Employee’s bonus is a bit on the side? (6,7)
13. Shooters are with it on armed vessel (7)
15. Lower graduates into river (6)
16. Minor scoop for a nurseryman (6)
17. Jose is entertaining company – only joking (6)
19. He finds the officer is batting (5)
NONAGRAM
1. Grooming implement (9) 9. Flowering plant (6) 10. Fate (4) 11. Chilly (4)
How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. Guidelines:
Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition) is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).
EQUALISER: CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: QUICK CROSSWORD: Across – 1 Hairbrush; 9 Mallow; 10 Doom; 11 Cool; 12 Gobble; 13 Ferrous; 16 Reek; 17 Pale; 18 Sip; 20 Icy; 21 Heap; 23 Tuba; 25 Databus; 26 Geckos; 29 Peso; 30 Like; 31 Azalea; 32 Embattled. Down – 2 Apogee; 3 Remark; 4 Recoup; 5 Smog; 6 Halogen; 7 Club; 8 Sweetpeas; 13 Frying-pan; 14 Rely; 15 Salad; 18 Snub; 19 Whoopee; 22 Pagoda; 23 Tablet; 24 Buckle; 27 Clam; 28 Seam. Across – 1 Tumbrel; 8 On paper; 9 Long ago; 10 Fiction; 11 Mombasa; 12 Henbane; 14 No doubt; 18 Raccoon; 20
21 Well off; 22 En suite; 23 Lenient.
The Terracotta Army; 7 Cats; 8 Businessman Lord Sugar; 9 Northanger Abbey; 10 Turkey. envoi; evil; EVOLUTION; involute; levin; live; liven; love; novel; olive; outlive; oven; ovine; ovule; unveil; veil; vein; vent; ventil; veto; vile; vine; vino; viol; violent; violet; violone; voile; vole; volet; volt; volte; volute; volution; vote.
CHALLENGE: 1 Liechtenstein; 2 Seaweed; 3 Spain; 4 Jet; 5 New Zealand;
Each number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.
As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.
SUDOKU
and so must each 3 x 3 box.
Sport
Sam Gilder the hero again as Bishops Cleeve beat Bristol Rovers Development
STAND-IN shot goalie Sam Gilder proved to be the hero once again for Bishops Cleeve as his third performance of the season yielded his third Player of the Match award.
Gilder, who had retired from playing in 2019, conceded only once and made three saves in the shootout as Paul Collicutt’s side overcame Bristol Rovers Development on penalties in the GFA Senior Challenge Cup quarterfinal.
Gilder’s 16year career saw him play for the likes of Bishops Cleeve, Evesham United, and Worcester City, with his senior debut coming for Cleeve under current boss Collicutt in the FA Cup first qualifying round in 2005, a 1-0 win at Fairford Town aged just 17.
By Ben Ware
The 36-year-old’s last game for the Mitres was a 0-0 draw against Tuffley Rovers in their Hellenic Premier Division title-winning season before hanging up the boots with Worcester City in the Midland Football League. His return would come in 2025 when Bishops Cleeve celebrated their 120th anniversary game with the visit of Manchester United Legends, a team of former Mitres players lost 3-1 but Gilder had impressed Collicutt enough to be called back into his first team squad as stand-by for number one Lewis Clayton.
Gilder featured in pre-
season as Cleeve lifted the Severn Sport Shield with wins over Longlevens AFC and Gloucester City, but his return to competitive action came in the first round of the FA Trophy, which the club had reached for the first time ever, where he’d face Southern League Premier Division side Farnham Town at the Memorial Ground. The 90 minutes would end with a 2-2 draw, with the game going straight to penalties. Gilder would save two as Farnham won 3-1, being named Man of the Match for his performance across the day.
Promotion favourites Winchester City brought his next appearance on the subsequent Tuesday at the end of October with a midweek trip down to Hampshire. Winchester would take the lead but found themselves unable to beat Gilder again, with Jake Lee’s second-half strike seeing the points shared. Gilder was named Man of the Match again as he kept the Mitres in the game and held a cutthroat home side at bay.
The Bristol Rovers game brought his third appearance of the season, a wellorganised and well-drilled Rovers Development team fashioning plenty of chances
but often seeing themselves left frustrated as they were unable to beat Gilder. Jack Watts scored as he slid home from debutant Devanti McInerney’s low cross with 56 minutes played, and it
looked as though Cleeve would hold on for a place in the semi-final, but Gilder was finally beaten in the 93rd minute, and it would go to penalties.
Gilder saved Rovers’ first
spot kick, and the second, with Jack Watts scoring and Toby Holland hitting the post. Rovers couldn’t score their third either with Curtis Jemmett-Hutson putting Cleeve two ahead. Gilder
saved the fourth but moved too soon and Rovers scored at the second attempt but it was too little too late as Jake Lee won the shootout and Gilder was named Man of the Match once again.
Dominant Mitres hammer Brixham 6-1 to put them close to playoff spots
TOBY Holland, Ben Mclean, Ross Langworthy, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson and Josh Nelmes were all on target for Cleeve, as the Mitres made it two wins out of two this week.
Both sides struggled to get into the game in the first quarter of the match, as a lot of play was seen in the middle of the park.
Cleeve started to put themselves in the frame when new signing Devanti Mclnerney put in a low cross to Langworthy, which was blocked by the Brixham
By Billy Taylor
defence. It fell to Jack Watts, who couldn’t get anything going either.
The Mitres scored themselves a penalty when Watts was brought down by Tyler Joint in what was a clear foul.
Holland stepped up and smashed the ball into the middle of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way and making amends for his miss on Tuesday against
Bristol Rovers Developmental.
Watts was a menace to the Brixham backline, and he came close to retrieving Cleeve’s second with Joe Jeremiah's pinpoint cross to the front post catching the forward's foot, as his shot was inches away from the net.
The Fishermen came back into the contest when Charlie Johansen’s shot from range caught the foot of Jake Lee, and it deflected into the net to make the contest equal again.
Added time saw Luke Payne have a go from outside the box with a swinging shot which caught the head of a Brixham defender, but Gillard did well to react and put the ball out to keep the result all square at half time.
Cleeve were quick to respond in the second half when Mclnerney’s original cross glided across goal and just missed the head of Langworthy, but Watts was on the other side and laid the ball off for Ben Mclean, who drilled it into the
bottom right-hand corner.
A brilliant layoff from Mclnerney put Holland through, as the ball reached Mclean, who got his shot off, with Gillard putting a stop to it. The rebound came out to Cleeve’s newest forwards, as the Fishermen’s keeper made a good save.
A third came from the Mitres through an own goal. Payne’s low cross was caught by Ryan Beattie as the ball rolled past Gillard in unfortunate circumstances for the
visitors.
Captain Fantastic Langworthy continued his impressive scoring run when Harry Leeson put the striker through, and the he dribbled the ball past the keeper to slot it home.
Jemmett-Hutson was unopposed on the left-hand side, as he walked into the box and put the ball past the Fishermen’s keeper.
Just before the end of the game, a Cleeve corner saw Nelmes jump up high for the Mitres' sixth and final goal of the game.
— Cheltenham football league round-up with Rob Morrison
A GEORGE Ellerton double fired Bishops Cleeve A to a 5–3 victory over title rivals Tewkesbury Town Reserves last week, lifting them briefly to the summit of the Cheltenham League Premier Division. But their stay at the top proved short-lived.
Hoping to build on that momentum, Cleeve made the short trip to Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves.
Sitting near the foot of the table, Service entered as clear underdogs - but player-manager Stu Midwinter had other ideas. His decisive strike earned Service a vital three points and, he hopes, the spark to turn their season around.
With Cleeve slipping, Tewkesbury wasted no time reclaiming the top spot.
Their 3–1 win over Whaddon United Reserves was an emphatic response to last week’s setback and enough to restore them to pole position.
Both sides, however, will be wary of the looming threat of FC Wickhamford.
The Worcester-based outfit saw their match postponed on Saturday, but they remain just three points off the top with three games in hand - a dangerous combination for the current frontrunners.
While the league schedule was otherwise quiet, Montpellier continued their impressive charge in the County Cup. A commanding 4–0 victory at Milkwall booked their place in the next round and extended their excellent run of form.
The Division One title race is heating up as December approaches, with
A SCRAPPY match was decided in the 70th minute when Jonathan Tomkinson converted Jordan Thomas’ corner at the far post, beating former Robins goalkeeper Luke Southwood and scoring his first goal for Cheltenham in the processa clean strike during a period in which Cheltenham were on top.
Former Cheltenham manager Darrell Clarke’s side arrived at Whaddon Road on the back of six straight defeats.
However, in a first half lacking quality, they were slightly the better side, and
four sides firmly in the hunt and little separating them at the top.
Cheltenham United currently set the pace. Their 5–0 win over struggling Winchcombe Town Reserves was followed by a hard-earned 2–1 success against Upton St Leonards in the County Cup on Saturday. United hold a slender one-point advantage over Mickleton Rangers, though they have played a game more.
Rangers, meanwhile, have kept the pressure firmly on.
Like United, they also booked their place in the next round of the County Cup in recent weeks, edging out Cheltenham Tigers on penalties before cruising to a comfortable 5–0 victory over Tewkesbury Town III at the weekend.
Just a point further back sit Welland Reserves. Their fine form continued with a 5–2 victory over Hanley Swan on Saturday, backing up a 3–0 win in the reverse fixture the previous week. Although they, too, have played a game more than
Rangers, Welland remain well positioned with more than half their league fixtures still ahead of them.
Shurdington Rovers complete the quartet of contenders. Rovers also enjoyed recent County Cup progress and followed it up with a gritty 3–2 win over Prestbury Rovers on Saturday. The result leaves them six points off top spot, but crucially, they have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, two additional league fixtures rounded out the weekend’s action.
Falcons Reserves edged a seven-goal thriller to beat Leckhampton Rovers 4–3, opening a three-point gap over their hosts, while Cheltenham Tigers eased to a commanding 7–0 victory over bottom-placed Winchcombe Town Reserves.
Division Two leaders Bredon Reserves strengthened their grip on the top spot at the weekend with an important 2–0 victory. Their opponents, Tewkesbury Town Development, began the day in second place, but the defeat leaves them 12 points behind - though they do still hold a game in hand.
Town’s slip allowed Worcester Forge to pounce, and they did so in emphatic fashion. Forge handed Montpellier Reserves a day to forget with a thumping 11–0 win, lifting themselves into second. They now trail Bredon by ten points but, crucially, have three games in hand that could close the gap significantly.
Cheltenham Saracens A are another side hoping to make their extra fixtures count. A comfortable 7–0 triumph over Whaddon United III kept them in fifth place, 12 points off the summit, but with three games in hand that could yet reshape the title picture if converted into maximum points.
The final league fixture on Saturday saw fourth-placed Newton return to winning form. Their 3–1 victory over Bibury Reserves keeps them firmly in the race for a toptwo finish, though they will need to take points off the sides above them to turn that ambition into reality.
the few opportunities created were theirs.
Ellis Harrison had the first meaningful shot of the match from the edge of the Robins’ box in the 16th minute, but his firm strike went over Joe Day’s crossbar.
A misplaced pass from Tommy Taylor gave Fabrizio Cavegn the opportunity to test Day, who was up to the task and produced a good save to deny him.
With five minutes left in normal time, a succession of corners saw Tomkinson head over and Ryan Broom shoot over the bar.
In added time, Cavegn saw his headed attempt clear the bar.
Overall, it was a lowquality first half, with honours even after 45 minutes.
Cheltenham started the second half on the front foot, and the lively Ben Stevenson shot wide of the post from the edge of the area in the 46th minute.
Within minutes of each other, there were penalty appeals from both teams. First, Rovers believed a shot was blocked by a Cheltenham hand in the 53rd minute, and then, when
the Robins broke away, Ethon Archer felt he was brought down in the penalty area.
The referee, who didn’t have his finest game, denied both appeals.
With 20 minutes remaining, Rovers nearly snatched the lead. Thomas was dispossessed in Town’s half, and the ball was played to Joel Cotterill, whose shot hit Sam Sherring and deflected onto the post and out for a corner. CLOSE!
Two minutes later, having survived that scare, the Robins went in front with Tomkinson’s crucial strike.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser but were limited to a long-range effort from Jack Sparkes, which went out for a corner.
With the back four defending well and Liam Kinsella and Stevenson working tirelessly in midfield, the Robins held out. With a kinder bounce of the ball, substitute Josh Martin could have broken free on goal in the final minute.
A hardworking team effort earned three vital points and moved the Robins up the table, with Rovers heading in the opposite direction.
Coxy’s Man of the Match Joe Day
Bishops Cleeve FC in action against Brixham.
Cheltenham Town win at home to Bristol
Continued from back page
I don't think I'd be unfair in saying their squad is stronger than ours. So to have to play against them - a local derby, a big crowd, a big and noisy away following - it was a really tricky game for us today.
“We worked really hard at keeping a clean sheet. I thought that was quite important after the last couple of weeks. We didn’t give any sloppy moments away today. That was huge, really, going into todaykeeping a clean sheet. Thankfully, we did that. And then to score like we did was a bonus.
“There was a deflection wide onto the post, but apart from that, and the routine one right in front of him, we were really good today. Some of our footballing parts were really, really good, and then other parts I think we can do better. But I'd still say that, given the circumstances of coming into today’s game, it was a really awkward one. I
knew that coming in, but I am really pleased for everyone. It was a great crowd today, home and away, to be fair. Bristol Rovers helped make the atmosphere as well, so well done to them. It was a typical local derby, if that’s what it is for us in terms of geography. It was an important win. Ben Stevenson was absolutely magnificent. He was the best player on the pitch today. I said to him, ‘We need to keep those stitches in, mate!’ He also borrowed George Miller’s shin pads, so I said he won’t be giving them back for a couple of weeks!”
Stevenson was excellent, as he has been since his arrival as a free agent. Lots of players put the work in to secure the crucial three points.
Cotterill continued:
“Having that extra pace in the back four helps, and when Arkell Jude-Boyd was in there, Broomy (Ryan Broom) has gone in there and done well. He did really well today. Kins (Liam Kinsella)
did well to finish the game.
The game went by Tommy (Taylor) a little bit, but he'll be better for that experience.
You can't let it go on too long without making a couple of changes, and we did.
“As soon as you get the goal, you have to do that. At some point the opposition are going to have a 10- or 15-minute spell. When we scored and that’s all that was left, they went 4-2-4 on us and I did toy with going to a back five. The problem is, if we do that and their full-backs go low, they’d have been raining down on us with an inverted full-back on one side and one crossing on the other, and we'd have ended up probably five against six. In the end, I went for that bluff one of keeping us how we were.
“Over the period of the game, it was always going to be tight. The most possession they had was once we’d gone 1–0 up. But we had another couple of chances to finish the game off. It was a good, solid performance from everyone, but Ben was the
Terrace talk with Will Alder
I THINK we all knew that there were going to be some bumps along the road between now and the end of the season, despite the miraculous start under new gaffer Steve Cotterill.
Unfortunately, following defeat at home to Notts County, we were not able to bounce straight back away at Tranmere Rovers.
Two howlers from our recently reliable defensive pairing of James Wilson and Sam Sherring gifted the hosts an early 2-0 lead and as we all know, as the lowest goal scorers in League 2, a deficit of this amount was always going to be a difficult one to come back from. In similar vein to the Notts County game though, our performance did improve and Cheltenham deservedly dragged themselves back into the game, with a Jordan Thomas tap-in after some excellent work from Jake Bickerstaff and substitute Josh Martin once again making the most of his limited game time with another well-taken strike.
Rovers’ talented front line at bay, with Joe Day also making a couple of smart saves to keep the score a 00. Ben Stevenson, with twelve stitches in his shin from last weekend’s defeat at Tranmere, played through the pain, showing his importance to us.
The impact that he has had in our recent run of form has been somewhat understated but he just makes us so much more solid, as a screen to the back four. We know too that Steve Cotterill is an admirer of loanee Tommy Taylor, in favouring him over the likes of Tommy Backwell and Harry Pell who have both not featured in the League under the new man. Unfortunately, the Ipswich Town loanee did little to repay his manager’s faith in him and did little to influence proceedings on his first EFL start.
standout today.”
Cheltenham won the game without top goalscorer Isaac Hutchinson and experienced midfielder Luke Young, highlighting the team’s strength when players can be rotated and still perform. It was something Cotterill was very proud of.
He said: “We have worked really, really hard this week. That’s not to say we don’t do that every week, but there was extra work put in because we are nearly changing all of our midfield. If you can grab hold of the game in midfield, nine times out of 10 you’ll win it. We went into today with a young lad making his full league debut, with Kins who is experienced but hasn’t played a game for a long time, and with Ben, who was touchand-go until the end of the week. I am really pleased for those three in different ways. I thought the two centrehalves were excellent. They’ve played against four good strikers there and they were really good.”
At this point it seemed as though there would only be one winner, however football is a cruel game at times. Charlie Whitaker’s winner for the hosts proved this to be the case, as his 87th-minute free kick rebounded back off the woodwork, into the back of Joe Day and then unluckily dropped into the back of the net. The lads’ performance on the afternoon definitely deserved something, but it was not to be unfortunately.
Next up at Whaddon Road was the visit of local rivals Bristol Rovers, led by former Robins gaffer Darrell Clarke and his exCheltenham filled back-room staff and squad.
The recently relegated and big spending Gas came into this one on the back of six League defeats in a row, which comes as a bit of a surprise given the calibre of players they have been bringing into their football club, the majority of which have experience higher up the pyramid or came with some big transfer fees attached.
Our stubborn and solid defensive front made a welcome return after our last two defeats, with Ryan Broom standing in admirably at right back, along with the rest of the defensive unit, who were all superb on the afternoon. We did well to keep
When you have players of the quality of Hakeeb Adelakun and Josh Martin to bring onto the pitch though from the bench, if you are still in the game, then you are always going to be in with a chance. It was actually another new arrival who broke the deadlock, as Jonathan Tomkinson was somehow left unmarked at the back post from a corner and calmly slotted past Luke Southwood to give the Robins the lead; we all love chanting a bit of “USA… USA” don’t we! Some more backs to the wall defending then followed, allowing us to hold out for a valuable three points, and putting an end to our recent poor run in the process.
Whilst we still sit 21st in the table, we were the only side from 16th down in the division to pick up a victory at the weekend, with the bottom half of the table remaining very tightly packed at the moment. Next up for the Robins is a trip to the JobServe Community Stadium to face mid-table Colchester United, who are now managed by Danny Cowley and have just convincingly dispatched Notts County away which is a great result for them. However, if we can continue to be solid at the back and get Adelakun up to speed, we should keep picking up points over the coming weeks ahead of the busy festive period, and hopefully see our remarkable rise under Cotts continue.
Cheltenham Post
Tomkinson Fires Robins to win over Rovers
Cotterill’s side
Former Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke returned to the Robins with Rovers but was sent back to Bristol with nothing to show for his efforts, thanks to a 70th-minute
Jonathan Tomkinson goal.
Rovers had their fair share of possession and at times looked dangerous, but as has often been the case under Cotterill, Cheltenham stayed calm and weathered the storm before scoring and sealing
the win.
After the game, Cotterill spoke about how important the win was.
“A fantastic win, especially on the back of two defeats. There are parts of today where we sort of ended up going back to square one a little bit, just before I came in.
The pressure is on the players in a difficult game.
Bristol Rovers have a really good squad.
Continued on p31
Another big race success for Brocade
By Ben Cox
THE Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning silks of owner Brocade Racing were carried to another big-race success at the Home of Jump Racing at The November Meeting, when Alexei (10030 Favourite) came home the comfortable winner of the £100,000 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by Brendan Powell, the five-year-old travelled well throughout and after taking the lead at the final flight in the extended two-mile Premier Handicap, he came home the comfortable six-length winner from Helnwein (14-1).
Successful trainer Joe Tizzard, whose father Colin saddled Brocade’s 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River, said: “He is a bit keen, and I was thinking he was travelling a bit too well going down the hill to be honest.
“We haven’t had too many top twomilers, so I’ll have to do my homework after this!
“He’s a progressive handicapper at the moment. I scared Garth (Broom, of Brocade Racing) when he won at Ascot as I said we will have to go again two weeks later as they are the most patient owners we have got. They usually like to give everything a month between races.
“It was a hell of a performance today though. The ground drying out has helped him – I don’t think it’s as bad as people thought it was going to be.”
Brendan Powell added: “He’s obviously got quite a decent level of ability and was obviously wellhandicapped although he won’t be after today – I needed wing mirrors!
“He’s jumped, he’s travelled and there wasn’t really a moment’s worry on the way round. It was just a case of trying to get some company over the last and when I said go, he picked up.
“He hasn’t raced before a crowd like this before so I wanted to make sure he kept going forward after the last, but he obviously has a high level of ability.”
It was a near 34-1 double for the Tizzard-Powell combination on the day following the success of Triple Trade (7-1) in the Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase.
